Octavia Spencer Wins Golden Globe and Honors Dr. King

 "With regard to domestics in this country, now and then, I think Dr. King said it best: 'All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.' And I thank you for recognizing that with our film," Spencer, 41, said in accepting the award for best supporting actress for her acclaimed performance as a maid in The Help.

We're out of school today in honor of Dr. King, so I'll be back tomorrow with a more thorough post.

Making Time to Meditate

 "Who you are in this moment, therefore, is who you truly are."  Marianne Williamson

I haven't stopped in awhile to listen to myself think.  It's time.  I know I'm looking for some things about my life to change.  I'm feeling restless and it's time for some internal dialog to take place.  I'm going to attempt meditation.  Of course, like in the book and movie, Eat, Pray, Love, my thoughts immediately go to how to decorate my little meditation spot!  But that really does rub me the wrong way.  Mr. Happy Buddha up there is who greets you when you walk in my front door.  He makes me smile every time I walk past him. So, even though it's my entry way, it seems like the perfect spot.  I mean, it's got a happy Buddha, a door and a telephone!  The means of welcoming communication are already in place.  Maybe if I sit here quietly for a few minutes a day, I'll hear what my heart has to say.

HStudio, Contemporary Candy

*This was originally posted August 31, 2010, but I still love everything just as much now as I did then, so I decided to re post!

I want this bed!  Wow!  Isn't this beautiful?  Talk about glamour!  OMG!  Instant love!  It's from a company called HStudio that's based in Los Angeles and specializes in the custom acrylic designs.  I spotted these over at Urban Flea and fell hard!  I love acrylic furniture and am always hoping to find the perfect piece in an antique or thrift store.  The prices are usually astronomical for old or new pieces.  And the prices of this furniture isn't listed on the website, so I'm guessing they are high, too, but what really special pieces!

The Allison Bed

According to their website, the HStudio Collection began with the sculptures of artist and founder, Shlomi Haziza. Over the years, the collection has grown to include, not only sculptures, but pedestals, furniture, upholstery, lighting, accessories, rugs, waterfalls, and wall sculptures. They use a wide range of materials including metal, wood, fabrics, stone, and more, but their exceptional skill, capabilities, and innovations with acrylic is what sets them apart and makes them a leader in acrylic art and furniture design.

Verona Chair

The Carmen Sofa

Pisa End Table Lamp

Adriano Console Table

The Darcy Rug

The Aries Sculpture

The Lawrence Desk

 They do jewelry, too!  Look at these!  They look like candy for your wrists!  I think it would be very hard to decide which color to buy!

Acrylic Cuff 

Orange You in Love?

Orange you in love? by fivecrescentdrive featuring a leather shoulder bag

Leather handbag
$398 - anthropologie.com

Tory Burch leather handbag
$465 - toryburch.com

Reed Krakoff leather shoulder bag
$525 - saksfifthavenue.com

Vintage shoulder bag
$170 - modcloth.com

CAMBRIDGE SATCHEL The Fluoro Satchel
£129 - harrods.com

Football and Food in Louisiana Today! Geaux LSU!

AddInitially created to commemorate the exhibition "Blue Dogs and Cajuns on the River:  George Rodrigue from the New Orleans Museum of Art and other collections" at the LSU Museum of Art during the summer of 2011, artist George Rodrigue sponsors a campaign to benefit arts and education in Louisiana.

Presenting:

A Number One Tiger Fan

A Silkscreen Print by Louisiana Artist George Rodrigue
Each print is hand-signed by George Rodrigue
The edition is open, meaning it is not numbered but available only through January 2012
Dimensions:  31" X 22"

It's a big day in Louisiana!  The BCS Championship game is tonight!  Top ranked  LSU vs No. 2 Alabama! The state might as well shut down, because everyone is focused on what's going to happen tonight in the Superdome!  The landmark structure just an hour's drive down Interstate 10 from the LSU campus in Baton Rouge is tantamount to a home-field advantage, even though it's supposed to be a neutral venue.We already got past Saturday's Saints game with a win, so the volume is already turned up extremely loud on the roar of the Louisiana fans!  It gets REALLY loud in the Superdome, so Alabama better be prepared!  We were fortunate enough to be at the Tigers opening game in Cowboys Stadium in a beautiful suite, with everything catered!

Thank you Kirk and Penny!

We won't be at the game tonight, (Although we were offered tickets!) but if you live in Louisiana, you're either throwing a party or attending one!  We are attending one.  I've gathered a few of the best recipes for a football party from some of my friends around the internet, and while you may not be an LSU fan, or a Saints fan (although, just you wait!  We will be at your Superbowl party!) these snacks are great at any gathering!

Okay, beer is just a given!

But what about something a little stronger too, for the gentlemen in your group?

Jack and Coke slushies via Pinterest

Mango Avocado Salsa

Yum!  Doesn't that look delicious?

Srircha and Wasabi Deviled Eggs

Seafood Gumbo

The perfect main dish in Louisiana!

Or Chicken and White bean Chilli via Camille Styles

Bittersweet Chocolate-glazed Espresso Brownie-Bites

Or even better, something Purple and Gold!

Blackberry Sorbet

 

Let Alabama eat Golden Cake!
Geaux LSU!

Glamour Shoes

Charlotte Olympia Masako silk satin pumps

I want a new pair of shoes!

Which doesn't exactly follow my resolution of wanting what I have, but it doesn't hurt to look!

These are so pretty!

Miu Miu Glitter finish leather sandals

A shiny gorgeous shoe just makes me happy.

And in Louisiana, the holidays may be over, but Mardi Gras is just getting started!  So bring on the ball gowns, the glittering beads and the masked balls!  Maybe I do need a new pair of shoes!

52 Books in 52 Weeks

To promote the Read Across America program, the New York Public Library created a 26-ft tall by 40-ft wide display that spelled out the word “Read” using 25,000 Dr. Seuss books.

 I have loved to read since I was a very little girl. From Three Little Kittens to Nancy Drew and Little Women. I still love to read, and need to, to fall asleep. However, in the last year, I have found myself watching more television and reading fewer books. So, as I mentioned in my resolutions, I have challenged myself to reading 52 books this year. When I say the number, it doesn't really sound like that many, until I realize that I haven't really determined exactly what that means.

 I tend to read long books. I just finished 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami, and it was 925 pages. I like design and decorating books, too, which tend to be more pictures than words. So I guess they will balance each other out. I'm starting to worry, can I do this? But wait, breathe! This is supposed to be fun! And also pull me away from the t.v. garbage I've been ingesting lately!

I'm going to take it one book at a time and just see what happens! Even though I started 1Q84 in 2011, I finished it in 2012, so I'm counting it! My best friend wants to see The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on Sunday, so I'm speeding through that one, now.  I realize I'm late to that party, but c'est la vie!  Mary McDonald Interiors and Suzanne Sommers' Sexy Forever are on my bedside table and my daughter gave me Alice Waters' In the Green Kitchen for Christmas.  (Should I count cookbooks?  I think yes, if I actually read the whole thing!)  So my plate is full and I will be on target for January if I do manage to get all of these read.  After that, I will be looking for suggestions, so please share your favorite titles!

Now if only I could sit here to read.

 That chair is on my dream wish list!

Or I could sit here and sort my books.

But this, is where I actually read!

I'm excited!  I should be so much smarter by the end of the month! I'll give book reports as I finish, as well.