Musing at the Moon

Wake Up and Release the Kraken!

2012-01-31T15:58:00.000-06:00

It's high time I started writing again and what more opportune time than when I have a very important subject to write about. This is serious folks and should be taken with the utmost regard.

The Kraken.

I know what you're thinking.

Stop right now.

This is SERIOUS!

I now will make it my life's work to try new recipes using my new found friend. First stop, Kracken Spiced Mojitos. Could be bad.

Stay tuned.

Life is Tough, Nuns are Tougher

2010-09-06T11:23:00.002-05:00

I've long been a fan of kitsch. Religious kitsch has its own special place in my heart since I grew up Catholic and my favorite aunt was a nun.

I found the perfect bracelet from Sister Mary Martha's Etsy shop Heaven Help Us. You know, I'm pretty sure that Sister Mary Martha isn't really a nun. I doubt that the Catholic church condones their nuns running a side business. If they did, I'm sure we'd have far more common sights like nuns on the corner selling Holy Water Lemonade for 5 cents. I would buy that but the pope might frown. But with a personal motto of "Life is tough. Nuns are tougher." I don't think I can pass up the lure of the Jobs and Income Set of saints medallions bracelet.

Sister Mary Martha specifically grouped these saints together for their beneficial effect on for finding a job and keeping a stable income. Perhaps an unlikely grouping. You wouldn't see these folks gathering after work for happy hour. What would they talk about? There's Pope John Paul II, who had the longest run in history for as a Pope (the stability factor;) St. Expeditus, the patron saint of things that need to get here in a hurry; the Infant of Prague, the patron of financial stabilty; St. Martin de Caballero, who according to Sister Mary Martha "would give you the shirt off his back; and finally, St. Francis of Assisi, who made a close friend of Lady Poverty, just in case you need little help dealing with the fact that it's hard to make ends meet."

Perhaps an unlikely grouping. You wouldn't see these folks gathering after work for happy hour. What would they talk about? But for a prayer bracelet, heck it just might work.

Can I Come Out Yet?

2010-09-05T13:16:00.005-05:00

Now that fall is on its way, its going to be safe to venture outside in Austin without the risk of melting into the sidewalk in a puddle of perspiration (yes, that's alliteration.) In the Midwest, from whence I hail, your indoor months are normally in the winter where the frigid temps and often ice and snow make it not impossible but certainly uncomfortable to be outdoors.

Here in the great south, winter is often comfortable but the dog days of July and August are rendered unbearable. These are the months where you find yourself holed up indoors looking out longingly at the beguiling sunny days calling you like a siren's song. If I'm not in the AC or in a very chilled pool of water somewhere, I'm a very unpleasant mess of sweat and grumpiness. (Sadly, I've discovered my apartment pool while looking enticing does not fall into the category of chilled pool since I clocked it at about 90 degrees in the summer.)

But with the thoughts of cooler temperatures on the way, I find myself making a list of things I must see and do and many, if not all of these, fall firmly within the keeping of the motto "Keep Austin Weird." Today, Chicken Shit Bingo at Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon.

Tomorrow? Next week? Who knows, maybe it will be The Cathedral of Junk, a towering ode to salvaged junk in someones back yard or maybe the Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata.

I might stick to the tried and true and grab a kayak and head out upriver, hit the Zilker Botanical Gardens, peruse the garden shops and look longingly at the bamboo and lush plants for sale that won't fit well on my tiny outhouse sized balcony, cruise the kitsch shops along South Congress and maybe buy that Freemason cape I've been oggling at Uncommon Objects, learn the two step at the Broken Spoke or go see Junior Brown at the Continental Club. Perhaps I should just keep it "normal" and head out for a day trip to Salado or Fredricksburg. That's the beauty of Austin. Even when its sizzlin' hot and you'd sell your grandma for an iced tea, there are always so many things to do before you die of heat exhaustion.

Google Yourself....You Might Just Find a Surprise

2010-07-20T14:18:00.000-05:00

Its so uplifting to know that there are folks out there saying nice things about you. Often times we never find out and we go along with our lives sometimes questioning if we've made an impression, if people like us or hate us, if people like what we make or pass it on by without a thought. That's why I love google. I thankfully don't make the tabloids but occasionally I'll find a surprise blog or two where someone has praised my products and it just makes my day.

Today it was from The Handmade Guru's blog. Ahhhh feel the love for the Moody Mud.

Will Craft For Food Etsy Street Team

2010-01-31T21:37:00.003-06:00

I've just started a street team on Etsy called "Will Craft for Food." With so many people unemployed and searching for jobs, its nice to see that the entrepreneur spirit is alive and well and residing on Etsy!

This team is a support group, a resource center and a promotion team dedicated to helping Etsians who have lost their primary job or someone in their household has lost their job and they are using Etsy to try to make ends meet.

Follow the blog for the Will Craft for Food Etsy Street Team!

Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble- Bubble Bath Bars

2010-01-24T15:01:00.006-06:00

I've been speaking to alot of people lately who haven't tried bubble bars or solid bubble bath in any form not to mention the fact that most people haven't heard of them. Bubble bars, like my Bath Taffy (wrapped to look like old fashioned salt water taffy) are made of very gentle solid ingredients that work a little bit like bath fizzies but instead of just fizzing in your bath, they actually form an incredibly lush bubble bath filled with voluminous bubbles. Bath Taffy is actually formulated to soften skin and moisturize using all natural ingredients. Bath Taffy is scented with premium essential oils and fragrances designed for an overall relaxing and enticing experience.

Many commercial bubble bath formulas are made with harsh agents that will actually dry out your skin (and may not be so kind to your *ahem* girly parts.) Bath Taffy is made to be kind to all of your parts. So, what are you waiting for? Try some!

Moody Girl Aromatherapy

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaccccckkk

2010-01-17T10:45:00.004-06:00

Well kids, I've settled in from the move to Austin, Tx and am proud to announce Moody Girl Aromatherapy is back and running on Etsy. I've got some wonderful new products in the testing stage that I can't wait to debut. Look for a new bubbly milk bath called "Moody Milk Suds" and a new bubble bath dough as well as some loofah soaps called "Oompah Loofah." Look for it on my etsy site soon! Moody Girl Aromatherapy

I also found some wonderful coverage at Lovely Safe Mama on the Moody Girl Aromatherapy line and how it can help in the anti aging process.

Austin or Bust

2009-09-20T23:18:00.003-05:00

Its happened! I've signed a contract for the sale of my home and I'm Austin bound. The first people to see the house after the refinished floors and new staging furniture put in a contract. So HGTV viewers, its not just all hype, it actually works. Or maybe it was just coincidence. Who knows. What I do know is, I've got a contract and I'm a happy girl.

This home sale business has been an interesting exercise in sanity. Its not easy to have people traipsing through your house, quite invited I might add, to judge and determine if they might deign to live here. Its not a perfect house by any means. I'm sure it was quite hastily build in 1954 as most of the houses in that era were. Its got its good points and its bad points. Its been neglected here and there and spruced up in other places. Its colorful at least. Perhaps like lipstick on a pig but she's my pig dagnabit. (Which I will quite happily part with for the right price...sign on the dotted line, sir.)

So inspections are this week sometime and that will be the telltale sign. Some guy, or gal lest I be sexist, will come here and check out my lipsticked pig with a fine tooth comb and surely unearth any number of things that could be wrong. That's their job. They need to point out all of the negatives or what is the buyer paying $400 for. I'm prepared to make some fixes. I want this sale to close.

So wish me luck and tell me my pig is pretty and you'll have a place to stay in Austin anytime.

My New Career Choice

2009-09-10T10:26:00.006-05:00

I've decided I want to be a gypsy fortune teller when I grow up. Please don't tell me its a silly dream.

St. Joseph Seems Too Comfy

2009-09-10T07:40:00.003-05:00

Well, its day 35 of the house being on the market and no sale. I'm thinking perhaps St. Joseph is too comfy in his little burrow in the ground.

I have decided though that perhaps I should do some sprucing up and get the floors refinished. Once I do that I may just want to stay. I'll post the "before and after" shot. Does St. Joseph know something I don't know? Am I destined to stay in Kansas City.

Before....
After.... (Oh, I got rid of the ratty sofa and scratched up chair too)

Eclectic Finds in Austin

2009-07-31T16:54:00.002-05:00

But seriously....as hot as Austin is (see post below) it offers eclectic places like this one East Side Showroom. Listen to the song. It says it all.

Austin is HOT!

2009-07-31T11:34:00.002-05:00

Oh boy, Austin is boiling away down there. Its been over 100 degrees for at least the past month with no relief in sight. So why do I want to move there? Normally I'd be able to say, "Kansas City is just as hot with nothing to do to boot" but its been unseasonably cool this summer with temps in the mid 70's-80's for a good long time. Last night it got down to 58 degrees. This is unheard of for late July. Is Mother Nature testing me?

I read where Lake Travis is so low that they are discovering cars that have been missing since 1988. There was even a prehistoric skeleton discovered that dates to almost 2000 years old. I kid you not. I'm waiting for the breaking news story, "Jimmy Hoffa Discovered at the Bottom of Lake Travis!"

Oh well, test away all ye of little faith. I DO want to move to Austin. God awful heat waves can't keep me away. After all, they have AC there.

St. Joseph-- Sell My House!

2009-07-30T12:56:00.005-05:00

As a "recovering Catholic" and the great-grand-niece of a nun, I thought it only appropriate that I follow an ancient Catholic ritual (since at least 1950) and beseech St. Joseph to help me in selling my house. I'm sure this ritual isn't sanctioned by the Pope and its probably one that the local priest would roll his eyes at and try to lure me into the confessional booth for absolution from worshiping false gods and engaging in pagan rituals. "Forgive me father, for I have sinned....its been oh....25 years since my last confession. You got a minute? This could be a lonnnnnnng day."

If you're not familiar with the Catholic religion then you may not be aware that the Catholics have patron saints for just about every cause, occupation, illness and wishes you can think of. Headache? Hairstylist? Accountant? Hoarse Voice? Stubbed toe? Yep, they got you covered. You can get little medals of the patron saints and wear them or carry them in your pocket. St. Joseph happens to be the patron saint of the home among other things.

Apparently, if you want your house to sell fast, you're to bury a statue of St. Joseph in your yard upside down on his head, and voila! Your house will sell fast! Then you are to dig the little guy up and bring him with you to your next home where you offer him a place of honor in thanks for the quick sale. Perhaps all of the blood is rushing to his head so he's anxious to get the heck out of the ground and onto your mantle and that is why the house sells. Whatever the reason, I don't mind making the poor Saint suffer a bit. After all, saints are well versed in martyrdom.

Lucky for me, the Catholic supply store has a handy little kit you can buy complete with the statue and prayer for intercession and detailed burial directions. These Catholics, they think of everything.

Also, being the good little fallen Catholic that I am, I decided to cover all bases and visit the New Age store to see what they might have to offer in the way of pagan rituals for a quick home sale. Unfortunately, and rather ironically, they didn't have a handy kit like the Catholics but I did pick up a few candles and some sage sticks and incense.

Hmmm...I wonder if there's a Muslim supply store around here, then perhaps I'll look for the Hindi supply and ohh, why not beseach the Buddha too. Can someone point the way to Mecca please?

Life, the Universe and Everything In Between

2009-07-10T14:53:00.008-05:00

Life has a funny way of exerting its own control. Just when you think you've got it figured out, you'll be thrown another curve ball. If you have your eye on the ball, you'll be able to see it coming. If not, it might just hit you flat in the face.

I've been on sabbatical from my blog for awhile with some regret. I miss writing but I think I needed some time to figure things out and let life happen without categorizing it in an interesting manner.

I was laid off from my very comfortable day job on May 1st and since then I've been doing some remodeling in my head. Not home remodeling, god forbid, life remodeling. I've been moving along in my life at a steady pace but not really reaching happiness or utter contentment. I've been complacently accepting what life has been offering without really finding out what feeds my soul and taking a chance on "going for it."

I think its time for a change. This past year has really made me open my eyes. I should have seen the curve balls coming but frankly, I was in denial, believing I had no control over them and just dealing with them as they came instead of carefully laying out game strategies which might lead to victory. But, I was practicing living in the "now" and setting little goals as life took its turns. Its not a bad way to live.

Since I lost my job I've been looking diligently for a new one but have had very few bites. It seems the economy (which I had placed in my denial category prior to this event) IS as bad as they say it is or people are buying into the hype and are hunkering down and waiting for the storm to pass.

But in thinking about my life and my daughter's life and happiness, I've determined that maybe this is my wake up call. Maybe its time for me to make some changes. Changes which before seemed too difficult or too unconventional even. I've been trying to fit my life into the Johnson County cookie cutter lifestyle where conformity is rewarded and individuality shunned. I've been trying to raise my daughter to be an individual and be proud of it but at the same time sending her to affluent schools which only reinforce that she is a little too much of an individual for "society" standards. We're square pegs. We are living in a mound of Swiss cheese with only round holes and carefully sculpted, perfectly matching round pegs.

Last year about this time we went to Austin for vacation. I had lived in Austin before. It had called me after I graduated college and I followed the call back then with little fear and great excitement. I announced my move to my friends and family, packed my tiny pink hatchback (hey, it was the late 80's) popped in my George Jones cassette and drove down with little more than a few clothes and essentials. I loved it. The buzz of adventure carried me a long way until I entered into the conventional and tried to settle down and get married with a man who was not at all good enough for me and I shunned my bohemian soul and tried to be a cookie cutter wife.

Then things happened which brought me back to Kansas City. But now having visited Austin again 3 times since last year, I have an itch to move back. Austin is a siren calling me with her hauntingly beautiful honky tonk twang. The interesting thing is, she's not only calling me but she's calling my daughter as well. Perhaps even more strongly than me for she begs me to move us to Austin. Donning her UT shirt and her Texas necklace, she cajoles me on a regular basis about moving. She doesn't need to. I feel it too. Austin is calling.

So, in the middle of this mid-life-job-loss crisis, I have cleaned out about half the contents of my house, giving away items to charity that I have no idea why I've kept for so long. I've spruced up my house, declared her seaworthy and set her sail on the house market. I'm picking up sticks and moving to Austin where there are square pegs galore and plenty of square holes to boot. Its a bold move. In fact my mother has declared it crazy. But I need to do it. I feel it in my soul. I need to make a new life for myself and my daughter. So...buckle up kids, its gonna be an interesting ride!

Diary of a Single Mom

2009-01-27T14:54:00.001-06:00

Check out this new internet series, Diary of a Single Mom. The show chronicles the lives of three single mothers and their families trying to get ahead in a world that is trying to hold them under. Robert Townsend produces this series and it looks like an interesting website.

Re-living Jr. High

2009-01-06T12:46:00.018-06:00

Its my biggest nightmare. I recall with vivid accuracy many aspects of my girlhood adolescence. I remember the name of the "Queen Bee" of our school who reigned supreme over all of the terrorized girls in our class. She wasn't the prettiest girl nor was she the richest. So how was she crowned queen? She was queen of the mean. She did it in subtle ways all the while escaping attention of the nuns and teachers at my small Catholic school. She was sweet on the outside and cold and calculating on the inside. Unlike the male bullying that my brother endured (mainly because he was quiet and unassuming and wore "hip" shoes that my mom bought him not realizing she was making him a target for "unhip" boys everywhere) which was overt and consisted of hitting or stealing his books, girls had a more subversive form of control.

It wasn't considered "bullying" back then for girls, it was considered a right of passage. That's just how girls are and you must be doing something wrong or you aren't being nice enough to fit in with the "popular girls." I coped by not caring and by finding friends who were, like me, a bit quirky, a bit different. I coped by being a clown and by smashing the lunch of a red headed girl in school. Yes, I guess I was affected and stood in line in the pecking order that had been covertly established in girl-world. I did my fair share. But when I smashed her lunch, it was in a playful way and it was funny (or so I thought.) Ironically this girl remains one of my best friends to this day. She just sat there with me, eating her smashed sandwich and came to expect it from me everyday.

While I wasn't directly targeted by the Queen Bee, I had friends who were and I was certainly affected by it. It wasn't just the Queen Bee, it was girl groups in general. The cliques. Like the saying on Project Runway, "One day you're in, and the next day you're out." There were times when we were invited into the realm of the Queen Bees only to be banished for no reason. There were times when rumors were spread, or when others endured the ostracizing, the public shunning which served only to remind us others to keep our heads down lest we experience the wrath of the Queen Bee and her court. I was so relieved to move on to high school where the problems were still there but it was a new Queen. And by the time high school rolled around, I was into art and theater and didn't really care what the others thought. In fact, I was a rebel and made it my mission to be different and NOT fit in. Thus snubbing my nose at the Queen Bees and their intricate world of betrayal. I found friends who were similar. I stopped smashing my red-headed friend's lunch. I found who I was, as an individual as part of a group of other individuals all of whom had their own quirks. Moving onto college, I had my share of friendship issues but always had a few close friends around me so it wasn't so much of a problem. I thought those days were far behind me.

And then I had a daughter.

And now this daughter is turning 12.

And now I'm re-living every moment as if the wounds were fresh.

Why? Because I'm experiencing all of the painful hardships that my daughter is now going through. She's had a rough couple of years but has always managed to keep her head up. Unfortunately, its not getting any better and the school that she loved has now turned into a dreaded place ruled by various Queen Bees and other minions who follow them. Unfortunately, the minions are just as heartless as the Queens, if not more so. So my heart bleeds for my daughter who is experiencing her first betrayal of "good friends" whom she had thought were loyal and true is finding herself "friendless." I can only be here to hold her up and encourage her to be true to herself and things will get better.

Thankfully, the treacheries of the girl-world is becoming more defined and the silent treatment, the exclusion and shunning, the mean looks, the rumor spreading, the ganging up on a girl, the two faced turning your back and the manipulating of relationships is now all seen as silent bullying. The bully is no longer the big muscled jock who pummels the 50 lb weakling.

Now...dealing with it effectively and keeping my daughter's spirits up in the meantime, that is the dilemma. I've found some resources that may be helpful. I hope so.

Handmade Holiday Open House

2008-12-10T12:38:00.008-06:00

I had an open house this past weekend and although it was alot of work and planning, it really was a fun little venture that I may repeat next year. My friend Meg of Magpie Skinnies, my sis in law Judy of Glazedearth and her friend got together and threw a "party" of sorts. We had libations and food and plenty to oggle and buy. I ended up buying alot myself!
Here are a few nice shots of the affair.check us out on Etsy
http://moodygurl.etsy.com
http://magpieskinnies.etsy.com
http://glazedearth.etsy.com

Christmas Cards

2008-12-03T16:24:00.003-06:00

Sending Christmas cards the old fashioned way is something I rarely do anymore and its really kind of sad. I've noticed some really cute handmade cards on Etsy lately and I think maybe its time to resurrect the lost art of snail mail cards. Maybe I'll even include one of those long winded enclosures telling all about what my family has been up to during the past year. Nah? Oh wait, thats what my blog is for. Maybe I'll just send the card.

My friend Meg at her shop magpieskinnies has some really cute cards for sale! I love her cute little frogs.
So Happy Holidays everyone and start sending those cards!

The Proof is in the Pudding

2008-11-22T10:09:00.002-06:00

craftpudding's shop at Etsy that is. Check out the cute handcarved stamps.

Cheeky Cards with Attitude

2008-11-21T09:23:00.002-06:00

Tired of the sappy old Hallmark cards? Having trouble expressing your true self this season? Why not send handmade cards that say what you REALLY feel? Etsy seller Greencard may have just what you need. greencard's shop

Stocking Stuffer

2008-11-21T09:19:00.001-06:00

Here's a cute stocking stuffer idea from littlepinkplum's shop . There are tons of cute pocket mirrors to choose from on here.

Why Are You a Moody Girl?

2008-11-18T08:50:00.004-06:00

People often ask me why I named my company "Moody Girl Aromatherapy." Well, I should say, everyone but my family and close friends. Yes, I'm a gemini so I can be a bit of a moody girl. I sort of think of it as a compliment though. If you aint moody, you aint living. To me, moody isn't just an ill tempered mood, its ALL moods.

The real reason behind the name is really a play on the term "Moody Girl" but moreover the fact that scents can really have a mood altering affect in your brain. In fact, the term "aromatherapy" means just that.

a⋅ro⋅ma⋅ther⋅a⋅py /əˌroʊməˈθɛrəpi/ Pronunciation [uh-roh-muh-ther-uh-pee] –noun
1. the use of fragrances to affect or alter a person's mood or behavior.

So you see, while I have been labled moody oh, once or twice in my life, it doesn't mean I'm an ill-tempered crabby girl given to violent mood swings. ;) It means simply that I make smell-good stuff to alter moods. (Mom, Dad, Sis, Bro: you are banned from commenting on this blog)

So.....here's to hoping you all have a moody day!

Wanna Talk About ME Wanna Talk About I

2008-11-04T11:07:00.004-06:00

Ok, I can't help but post this link. The website Safe Mama contacted me with an interest in my bath products. Safe Mama is dedicated to highlighting safe products for babies and children and as an offshoot, they have decided to review products that are safe for mamas too. She purchased some and here's what she wrote:

http://safemama.com/lovely/

Also, unbeknownst to me (until I did a self indulgent google search on myself,)The Little Black Box did a review about my products too. I just love all the love.

http://blackboxreviews.blogspot.com/2008/10/moody-girl-aromatherapy.html

Ok, I'm done talking about ME. Thanks.

Glazed Earth

2008-11-01T10:47:00.002-05:00

Glazed Earth, what a great name for a shop. And its my sister-in-law's shop to boot. She's just opened with some really cool pottery at some really enticing prices. Check her out.

http://www.glazedearth.etsy.com/

Dia de los Muertos

2008-10-31T13:49:00.004-05:00

I am fascinated and strangely drawn to the Dia de los Muertos images. I bought several things while in Mexico and even would like to visit Mexico one day during this very mystical time. Here are some cool images from Etsy shop www.carmelajay.etsy.com

Happy Halloween and Dia de los Muertos!

Little Black Box

2008-10-31T08:42:00.004-05:00

I used to love grab bags as a kid. There's nothing like the allure of a mysterious gift all packaged up in a plain wrapper. I even love grab bags as an adult. I bought a grab bag at Natural Wear one day for maybe $5 expecting a little trinket. What I got instead was a gorgeous sterling silver and garnet pendant! I wasn't so lucky when I tried again but there you go. Its all about the mystery and its just plain fun to open a package not knowing what's inside (unless you work for the Dublin Bomb Squad.)

If you haven't heard of The Little Black Box then you're missing the Grand Daddy of all grab bags...er...boxes. Indie artists and crafters, bath and body care makers, jewelers and soapmakers for example send in samples to be put in the boxes. As a buyer, you pay for the box (which is currently $19 including shipping) and you get a nice little black bag full of mystery goodies. Its a pretty cool way to sample some Inidie sellers' wares and satisfy the little kid in you who gets to open a mystery gift! I'm thinking these items may make some great stocking stuffers too....IF I decide to share that is.

You can get one too! --- http://thelittleblackboxes.com/order.html

Friends in High Places

2008-10-22T15:48:00.008-05:00

I have always thought myself fairly computer literate but when it comes to making doo-hickeys and doo-dads for web pages, I'm clueless. That's why I'm so thankful to my friend Meg who is able to whip things up for me in the amount of time it takes me to put on my makeup. I was in need of a banner for website ads and she was able to deliver a really fun animated one (that means its got movin' pitchers.) Thanks Meg! I owe you some Moody Scrub or some more Bath Taffy. (She's also my tester bunny when I bring out a new product.)

Thanks for everything Meg!
If you need anything done for your web page, I'm sure Meg can deliver for a small fee. You can check her out at: http://magpieskinnies.blogspot.com/

Thy Knight In Shining Armor, Milady?

2008-10-08T09:34:00.011-05:00

My daughter and two of her friends and I headed out the the Kansas City area Renaissance Festival last weekend. The weather was absolutely amazing so it really made for a perfect day. Two of the girls, including my daughter, dressed up in costume. We were determined to get into it. Its really much more fun if you just let your guard down and interact with the "townspeople." I think this is also a good way to go through life in general. How many times do we wander through life just reacting and not really experiencing the moment? Kids know how to do that. We were once kids, we should remember how its done.

And to remember to face our fears head on....

And as my friend Leonardo was saying...a smile can tell alot about a "lady." So why not carry one.As for me....
I was just having trouble deciding which Knight in shining armor suited me best.
The chivalrous one riding in on his trusty steed....
Or the mysterious, moody one I kept seeing lurking everywhere?

Probably neither. Oh well....cleaning all the dirt and polishing that armour doesn't look like much fun anyway.

Next year the girls want to come back as fairies.
What a welcome little step outside of reality it all was.

Blogs and Giveaways

2008-10-08T08:43:00.004-05:00

I have to say, its really nice when someone out of the blue likes my products so much they want to write about them. Here's the third blog on my Moody Girl Aromatherapy products. It has a giveaway in it too so be sure to comment on their blog if you want in on the action.

http://wishingwillow.blogspot.com/2008/10/rubbing-out-blues.html

I promise to post something soon that isn't just talking about my products. Oy vay, that must get old. "I wanna talk about me, wanna talk about I wanna talk about number one oh my me mine, what I think, what I like, what I know, what I see....I like talkin' bout you you you you usually....but occasionally, I wanna talk about me! Wanna talk about meeeeeeeeeeeeee." That's a song. I swear I didn't make that up.

Love,
Me
PS...here are the other blogs about...you guessed it....me!
http://magpieskinnies.blogspot.com/2008/09/new-from-moody-girl-aromatherapy.html

http://weblog.xanga.com/msdavionk/676776122/stress-with-crackers.html

Some Days You Just Need a Warm Fuzzy

2008-10-02T12:48:00.002-05:00

Daughter's Health Issues
Father's Heart Surgeries
Car accidents
Make that TWO car accidents less than 30 days
$185 grocery store trip
New Spreadsheets to learn at work

These are the things that life sometimes hands you. Sometimes its all at once and sometimes its just doled out in a steady stream. Either way as my mother so eloquently stated yesterday, "sh*t happens." I know that one should always look for the positives in things, and I do but sometimes when sh*t happens its the random warm fuzzies that just make us say, phew, I can deal. The positive things are...everything is OK with my daughter's health now that we found the right doc, my dad came out of surgery just fine, the first car accident-we walked away with a totaled car but not even a scratch on us, the second car accident was a minor bump that reminded me to pay attention and stay in the "now" moment, I paid for the groceries just fine and we have healthy food to eat, the spreadsheets....ugh, I can handle them but they aren't gonna be fun.

This week I've had two random people I don't even know contact me about featuring my products in their blogs and to them I am grateful. These are the warm fuzzies that keep us going. Thanks guys!

Here's one of the blog posts. The other has yet to be written but its coming.

http://weblog.xanga.com/msdavionk/676776122/stress-with-crackers.html

And to return the warm fuzzy, check out her Etsy shop. http://AtSeaLevel.etsy.com

Happy Hippie

2008-09-22T15:06:00.009-05:00

I made another scent of Bath Taffy (solid bubble bath) last week. I call it "Happy Hippie" because its got just enough patchouli essential oil to take you into that hippie haze you get when around those patchouli-loving free spirits. I think I'll dedicate it to my friend Susan who wafts the scent of patchouli wherever she goes. She now lives in just outside Taos with her 3 kids after a bold move a few years ago from the lap of luxury in Riverside, Missouri to a 500 square foot "cabin" on 5 acres with 360 views of the mountains.

This cabin is made of recycled materials including wine bottles and straw bale and cement and is "off the grid." She really wanted to embrace sustainable living and reduce her footprint to a bare minimum light step. She lives using collected rainwater, a makeshift shower using a large hanging bag, a woodstove for heat and an outhouse. She does have a propane stove and a few other amenities as of late as I think she may be slowly re-entering the earth's atmosphere.

At any rate, this is a lifestyle I can admire from afar as a bold move that was right for her at the time. I really salut her fortitude in choosing to live like this. So Susan, I dedicate the Happy Hippie Bath Taffy to you. Now...take a bath! ;)

Read more about Susan's life in New Mexico here...http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/2007-06-01/Simple-Living-in-the-Southwest.aspx

Moody Girl's Newest Product! Bath Taffy(tm)!! Solid Bubble Bath!

2008-09-12T10:45:00.012-05:00

Bath TaffyTM! I've just introduced a new product in the Moody Girl Aromatherapy line, Bath TaffyTM! I've been working on this one for quite a while now and I have finally got it perfected. This is similar to a bath fizzy but instead of just fizzies, it creates a ton of bubbles for a bubble bath experience. I'm really excited and all bubbly about this product! (ok, bad pun intended.)

Here's the official blurb:

"Luxuriate in the voluminous bubbles with this unique solid bubble Bath TaffyTM. Bath TaffyTM is made with ingredients designed to be mild and gentle to the skin and is infused with essential and fragrant oils for a smellerific experience! Get bubbly with it!"

And yes, I'm aware "smellerific" is probably not in the dictionary, but hey, neither was ginormous and it made it in!

Right now Moody Girl Aromatherapy Bath TaffyTM comes in 4 scents with new scents to come!

::::Orange Ginger:::Reminiscent of fresh peeled oranges paired with the warm spicy snap of ginger.The sunny and refreshing orange essential oil along with the warming, strengthening, and anchoring properties of ginger enhance this blend to bring you good vibes.

:::Lavender Mint:::Rich, flowery lavender combined with the zing of fresh mint. A soothing and calming and uplifting blend of lavender and mint essential oils.

:::Cherry Blossom:::This fragrant blend is both flowery and fruity. Great for those days when you’re feeling in the pink!

:::Portland Rain:::A nice refreshing fragrant blend reminiscent of misty rain in the Pacific Northwest forests.

You can find them online at Moody Girl Aromatherapy. Yes, shameless self promotion. :)

Apples at Last!

2008-09-08T13:38:00.012-05:00

We finally got to go apple picking. It was such a nice, cool and misty day on Saturday that we just couldn't resist being among the first of the season to go. We headed out to Vaughn Orchards in Weston, Missouri on the first day they opened the orchards to public picking. The trees were heaving with ripe apples this year. This is such a nice sight to see, especially since just last year these same trees were sadly barren due to a late spring freeze.

I think the trees made up for lost time. After such a long rest, they must have produced double this year. They had Jonathan's and Golden Delicious to choose from.

The small bags they handed us were deceiving. We ended up with about 20 lbs of apples! That's alot of pie. But, they cost about 1/3 of what they would cost in the grocery store and the view is just so much more appealing.

Not to mention the friendly folk we met along the way.

Now if you're looking for the apple pie at the end. There was one. The photographer (er...me) didn't have time to take any photos of that since I was taking the pie to dinner at my folks house. And frankly, the pie didn't stick around long enough. But trust me, it was GOOOOOOD. If you've never tasted apples fresh from a tree before, you don't know what you're missing.

Etsy is Amazing

2008-09-04T09:02:00.003-05:00

I continue to be amazed at the really cool things you can buy on Etsy. Here are a few of my favorites.....

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
moodygurl.etsy.com

My Garden

2008-08-30T15:57:00.004-05:00

My garden is experiencing severe neglect. Despite that fact, its nice to look out and see these garden faces. They make it seem so much less dismal.

Maybe there's a certain serenity in letting nature take over (by nature I mean weeds galore.) My garden statues seem to think so.

Balls

2008-08-24T20:41:00.005-05:00

I'm making up a bunch of samples of Moody Mud, my aromatherapy stress dough, to send to a shop in California. I thought they were so cool looking that I just had to snaps some shots of the colorful little balls.(to those of you who saw the title and expected something else...shame on you.)

Bad Hair Day

2008-08-24T19:54:00.005-05:00

Yes, dogs have them too...at least after coming out of my daughter's self proclaimed Doggie Hair Design Studio.

And hats off to this avant gaurde design perhaps inspired by Star Wars?

(*No dogs were harmed in the making of this blog entry.)

Blackberries, Blueberries and Pie...Oh my!

2008-08-18T10:31:00.013-05:00

I'm ready for fall. I bought an apple scented candle and as its aroma filled the air I had a sudden urge to go apple picking. Think of it, a cool fall day, rows and rows of apple trees standing like soldiers just heaving with red fruit. Alas, fall was not ready for me. I'm a few weeks too early and my yearn for fall is a little misplaced in this 85 degree heat.

So, on a whim Sage and I decided to go berry picking instead! We hopped in the car and headed out to a berry patch just south of Kansas City. I'd never been berry picking before but I'd heard it could be hard work but just think of the end reward, a lovely berry pie. Besides, we really had nothing else to do on an August Saturday morning. So, armed with our little white pails and directions to walk down the path a ways we headed out to the open berry patch about a quarter mile from the berry outfitters.

We started with the blackberry patch since it was the first one on the path. Blackberries are tricky. They like to hide. They offer their unripe bright red fruit in plain sight while the fat juicy black ones hide well in the back under the brush and leaves. This was frustrating at first but as we wandered the rows and adjusted our blackberry eyes, suddenly plump purplish black blackberries were spotted everywhere. The red ones held so much allure at first though that we couldn't help picking some.

I really got into the zen of picking blackberries and I could tell Sage did too. We went off down different paths exclaiming in triumph each time we found a big ripe black one. I was thankful no one else was around because I really actually started talking to the tricky bushes and thanking them for such beautiful berries once they decided to reveal them to me. Sage would have been mortified to hear me even if no one was around. Its a good thing she was a few rows over.

How can you not be gushingly thankful for such a lusty berry?

It took us a good hour to collect enough berries for a pie. An hour of zen disturbed only mildly by the buzzing of horseflies and huge blackberry-eating beatles. Sage found a snail lazily making its way across a blackberry leaf. A butterfly landed on her and rode with her all the way down one row. This hour gave me newfound respect for the price of berries in the store. Its hard work but ever so pleasant to be so close to nature.

We walked a ways over to the blueberry patch next. As you well know, blueberries are quite a bit smaller than blackberries. I picked a few and quickly decided it would take an awful lot of picking to make a blueberry pie....and the berry outfitters store DID say they had an abundance of already picked blueberries...so we wandered a few more steps, admired the breathtaking view of niceley spaced blueberry bushes contrasting ever so nicely with the pale blue sky and paused just long enough for me to snap this shot before we headed back to the store.

Ahh but the blackberries....just look at this bountiful harvest.

I can't wait til apple season!

Pay It Forward-Part Deux

2008-08-14T08:38:00.006-05:00

I love it when I buy something and first time out it gets noticed or gets compliments. I'm always afraid to wear "showy" jewelry. I am almost always seen wearing black perhaps so I can fade into the background and not be noticed....or perhaps I need Garanimals to help me match anything else. Alas, I checked, they only make Garanimals for kids. (For those of you who don't know what Garanimals is...http://www.garanimals.com/about.htm )

I digress, sorry.....This is my second Etsy.com purchase as part of my "Pay It Forward" plan, (AKA my excuse to buy things I clearly did not need.) Its a beautiful necklace and I couldn't be happier that my blank black canvass is decorated so beautifully.

By the way, this is a picture from the seller's site, its not me. The necklace unfortunately did not transform my cleavage for those of you who know me and wonder where that came from.

http://www.ydolem.etsy.com/

Fresh

2008-08-13T11:13:00.003-05:00

Ah who can resist the allure of fresh laundry? Certainly not my not so fresh dog, Yeta.

Pay It Forward

2008-08-07T09:39:00.009-05:00

I posted a challange of sorts in the Etsy forums for sellers to generate some good Etsy juju by engaging in the concept of "pay it forward." For those of you who don't know what the heck an Etsy is, you're missing out. http://www.etsy.com/ Etsy is an incredible venue for artists and crafters to sell their handmade wares. I felt that by buying from Etsy and giving someone else an Etsy buzz, it might also generate that vibe in my store as well. It worked, I made my first sale just after my first purchase. I bought this cube soap that I thought just looked so cool on the chrome stand from a shop called Red Leaf. Its a novel idea and I like novel ideas. I had initially wanted to buy from a shop who had yet to make any sales but this soap was calling to me. I dig cubes.

It was shipped super fast and it even came with a bonus sample of room spray in Lime Basil that smells fab. I love the scent of the soap, its called "Beach" but smells pretty similar to a perfume oil I wear called "China Rain." The soap lathers great, but I have yet to use it for shaving as suggested. Maybe I'll tackle my prickly legs today. I was a little surprised at the size since the soap was pretty pricey at $5 for the soap and $7 for the stand. I guess its pretty hard to judge scale by some photographs on the shop site. The stands are actually egg cups. Thanks to the free sample and the super-saturated scent, I was pretty happy with my purchase.

School Supplies

2008-08-05T09:50:00.003-05:00

Sage starts school in a week. I can't believe this summer is already gone. We went shopping for school supplies and I don't know what it is but I'm like a kid in a candy store where school supplies are concerned. Is it the smell of fresh paper? The allure of pencils to sharpen or fresh pens that no one has used yet? Or is it more?

Every time we shop for school supplies we both get a little giddy. We love getting the list and checking off each item as we find them. Its not only the fresh, virgin spiral notebooks and the smell of crayon wax, its the excitement of a new year. It signals new beginnings and the scary yet exciting adventures that lie ahead. Its the promise of something bigger and its a welcome glimpse into fall when its 103 degrees outside. I feel the rush too. Just like I did every year when it was time to buy new school supplies.

It may sound silly, but these are the moments to savor in life. I know I have only a few more years left to shop for school supplies with my daughter. Yet still, somehow I think I will still buy them even long after she's gone off to college. Just so I can feel that rush again...and maybe flashback to the excitement and promise of a new year. Screw New Years Eve, I'll take new school supplies any day!

Best Sandwich Ever! (ok maybe just this week)

2008-08-02T11:50:00.006-05:00

I have this recipe for homemade Pimento Cheese Spread that is NOTHING like the processed pimento spread you are used to from the grocery store. In fact, I think its so good that I crave it occasionally. Strange, I know. Who craves pimento cheese spread? ME! I use roasted red peppers so maybe I should call it Roasted Red Pepper Spread. Are pimentos and roasted red peppers the same thing? Hmm.

1 lb shredded cheddar (I like sharp)

1/2 lb shredded monterrey jack

3 TB finely chopped red onion

1/4 cup chopped roasted red pepper (or add more or less to taste)

4 TB mayo (please no Miracle Whip! I mean, eww.)

1 TB Chopped fresh dill or 1 tsp dried

There are no fancy directions here, just mix all the ingredients together and there you have it. You may have to add a little more mayo to your preference also. Personally I think this tastes better if allowed to mellow in the fridge for a day or so but you will probably want to dig right in. Its especially yummy with lettuce and cucumbers. Yum.

Sweet n' Scrubby---Aye!

2008-07-31T12:54:00.003-05:00

My friend Meg and my daughter Sage and I made sugar scrubs last night. I'm expanding my Moody Girl line and Meg was interested in making some too. It was a fun little gaggle of girls and we certainly did our share of giggling amid our sniffing of the over 50 different essential oils I have on hand. I wonder if my grandmother's quilting bees were like this. Did they sit around and talk about silly girl things and giggle at nothing in particular? I'll bet they didn't drink Mojitos which was the drink of choice for Meg and me (Sage drank root beer, what kind of mother do you think I am!) We joked about rum and pirates too. Why's the rum always gone? We tried 3 different scrub recipes, each with our own individual bowls and spatulas and each of us choosing our own scent combinations. For the first batch, Sage chose Lemon Sage (hmm, a little self promoting, don't you think) complete with added glitter to boot. Meg chose Ylang Ylang and Vanilla. For me, inspired by the Mojitos, I chose to blend Lime and Spearmint.

I think the lime green label I'd printed out beforehand helped with the inspiration but I think it really turned out well.

The second and third batches were a little more tricky. Meg couldn't decide on a scent for the third so, thinking like a pirate, she decided she needed more rum. Aye, me booty!

I'm not sure if it was the rum or the overdose on sniffing too many essential oils (I did warn everyone) but Meg and I both had trouble sleeping last night. She sent me a message this morning : "I totally see now what you mean about the fragrances keeping you up... I was SO awake, finally fell asleep, only to wake up at 1:30 having crazy dreams that you and I were pirates making sugar scrubs and a monster was after us."

I'll bet Grandma and her quilting bee ladies never had so much fun.

Purple Spuds

2008-07-28T14:40:00.001-05:00

On a recent trip to Whole Foods, I came across these purple potatoes. I've only ever seen these in Whole Foods and Wild Oats so I figured, they must be good for me, right? I always feel so much better about eating food from Whole Foods even if its slathered in butter. Hey, its Whole Foods butter! (Shh, don't ruin the illusion.) So I thought, "wouldn't these make the prettiest mashed potatoes?" I have always heard you should have more color on your plates, right? It means you're eating a variety of foods. So, not one to shun good advice on healthy eating, I bought these to "color up my plate." (ahem...the illusion thing again...thanks)

Here they are all cut up and purty....

And aren't they even purtier all mashed up with a nice contrasting yellow tab of butter on top. (Whole Foods butter, its good for you!)

By the way, I made that bowl, from scratch, on a potter's wheel and everything. Homemade purple mashed potatoes in a handmade bowl. Ahh, life is good.

For those of you who are worried, I paired this with grilled chicken breast and a colorful salad. Only problem is, it didn't stay on my plate long enough to get a picture of that.

Magpie Skinnies

2008-07-27T10:19:00.000-05:00

I do have real friends not just internet ones despite what my earlier blog entitled Blogging Chicks might have led you to believe. My friend Meg is awesome. She's real. I just opened a virtual store on etsy.com to sell my infamous Moody Mud and she designed my banner in about oh, 5 minutes! We were chatting on IM and there it was, my new banner.

Thanks Meg! She also designs the cutest onesies and sells them on her etsy shop. This is one of my favorites. If I had a little baby, I'd have one of each of her designs. She's also does paintings and is working on a children's book which I think is a grand idea. She's far more industrious about art than I ever was. If you want to check her stuff out, go to her etsy store! magpieskinnies

Austin's Uncommon

2008-07-26T11:40:00.000-05:00

I visited this shop in Austin called Uncommon Objects. It was a typical booth style flea market but atypical in the fact that it housed the biggest array of some of the strangest and most fascinating flea market items I've ever seen amassed in one place. Unfortunately I had a whiny tween with me who seriously hampered my shopping ability but not before I could check out the bewitching display of vintage Shriner and Mason objects. I don't know if its the symbols they use like the "eye of providence" or the crescent that drew me in but I've always found those oddly intriguing. I really wanted the rich velvet cape with the eye of providence on it but it was a bit out of my price range....oh say...$500. That must've been the Grand PooPah's robe (or whatever it is they call him.)

Kind of like the $400 cowboy boots I found. I couldn't afford those either.

Oh well. It was sure fun to look...even with a whiny tween.

Blogging Chicks

2008-07-25T08:40:00.000-05:00

I've spent a fair amount of time these past couple of weeks reading blogs and various women's forums and I have gotten a really good sense of female community that I find fascinating. I truly believe that girlfriends (with a select few male friends as well) are designed to hold each other up, listen, be there with a shoulder and sometimes to just plain laugh at life together.

Strangely enough, while the Internet has depersonalized alot of things in the past few years, I believe its also brought people closer together. I have revisited blog pages of people I've found interesting and with some, I feel like I know them. I feel like they're a girlfriend in a way sharing their daily lives with me like a phone call at the end of the day, just to chat.

Its also inspired me to actually look at some things in my life as "blogworthy" instead of as mundane things that I normally don't share with people. The other day I found purple potatoes at Whole Foods and when I made them into purple mash, I thought "Ohh I have to blog about these!" and it made it feel special somehow. That means I'm appreciating life instead of waiting for it to happen. I am appreciating everything and enjoying things in the "now" which is what I have been striving to do.

So thank you to all the bloggers out there who have helped me see that there are some really cool people in the world and for giving me a new perspective on the ordinary.

Big Red's Workout......Lemon Raspberry Yogurt Cake

2008-07-22T15:57:00.000-05:00

Just look at these healthy ingredients waiting to jump into Big Red. Big Red has been calling me ever since my blog post the other day about how neglected she is. I don't feel so bad about baking if I am using things like Organic flour, lovely brown eggs, organic yogurt, canola oil from Whole Foods....you get the idea. I found a recipe for yogurt cake and I tweaked it a bit by adding raspberries and using lemon yogurt instead of plain yogurt.
Here's the recipe....

Lemon Raspberry Yogurt Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 heaping cup of lowfat yogurt (lemon is good)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup Canola oil
1 cup raspberries (slightly thawed if frozen)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt (er…I rarely sift but at least mix it up.) Set aside.

In another bowl (or your Big Red Kitchenaid in my case) add yogurt, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and canola oil and mix until just combined.

If you don't know how to zest a lemon, just use the smaller holes on your grater and gently get the yellow stuff off the lemon.

Scrape down the bowl with a spatula (yours doesn't have to have the lovely melted handle) and add raspberries. Mix just until incorporated.

Pour your lovely swirly mixture into a greased loaf pan, or in my case since you just remembered you lent your one and only loaf pan to your mother, whatever groovy pan you have available. I even considered a muffin tin but was too lazy to put the little paper thingies in and dollop the batter into each little well. I opted for the valentines day heart pan even though its the middle of July. I digress. Sorry.

Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes or until you can stick a toothpick in and nothing goopy sticks on the toothpick. Remove from the oven and let cool.

This may be the most important step. DIG IN! Don't forget your favorite beverage. I think the milk jug says it all, don't you?

Dog Days of Summer

2008-07-22T11:11:00.000-05:00

Sage is bored. Her friends are all out of town and she's got no camp this week. What's a bored girl to do when its too hot outside? Wash the dog!! This is an unexpected but welcome activity in my book.

I'm not so sure Yeta agrees.

Big Red

2008-07-21T10:25:00.001-05:00

I love my Kitchenaid. I had coveted this one for years and finally was able to purchase one. The sad thing is, while she looks pretty sitting on my counter, she's sadly underutilized.

Why? Is it because I don't have the time? Is it because I'm a terrible baker? Is it because I need good recipes? Nope, its body image. Isn't it terrible when women feel like they can't bake because baked goods are bad for you? I've come to realize that no matter what food I eat, I have guilt. Instead of looking at food as nourishment and nutrients and the gift that it is, I look at every piece of food as a potential enemy...a wiley coyote there to tempt me only to result in making me fat.

Its an unhealthy attitude to say the least. Food is a life giver. Food should be revered. Instead it is shunned. If we were in another society apart from America, I believe our attitudes would be different. People are actually starving to death. They are literally dying from lack of food. Food to them would be a life saver. It would be something they would be incredibly thankful for. Something they would look at as a gift from the gods. Perhaps that is how I should look at it. So maybe Big Red needs to be revered too. Maybe I should use her today and make some incredibly delicious muffin or cake. And when I sit down to eat these wonderful gifts I can thank Big Red and the gods for providing me with such abundance and nourishment!

So thank you Big Red, you are curvy and beautiful...just like me!

Find the Birdie

2008-07-21T10:17:00.000-05:00

My cockatiel, Lulu, thinks she's clever. She thinks I may not find her if surrounded by decoys. She does sort of blend in, but she didn't fool me.

Pie

2008-07-16T16:30:00.000-05:00

I love pie. Pie is the cure for everything. The main thing I remember about visiting my grandparent's house was the big cherry tree in the back yard and the sour cherry pie bubbling in the oven. I can smell it now. My grandmother was an incredible baker. She couldn't cook much else that was tasty but she could make a mean pie. I'm afraid the apple fell very far from the tree on this one. I can't make a pie crust to save my life and these days who knows what's in the store bought variety. Then I came across this recipe and the step by step pictures and voila! I could make a pie crust!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/12/p-p-p-pie_crust_and_its_p-p-p-perfect/

I love this woman's blog too. She makes living out on a ranch with a cowboy seem so idyllic. Sigh.

Signs

2008-07-16T13:30:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I was thinking "positive thoughts" and saying affirmations while driving to my folks house. I did a silly thing, kinda like when I had the Magic 8 Ball fortune teller as a kid, and asked the Universe for a sign. I wanted a sign that things were on the right track and that my "intentions" were being heard.

I hit a red light, looked over to Kinkos, a place I pass nearly daily, and saw in the window a sign. It read, "Signs, You Need Them. We Have Them. Signs Work!" I laughed out loud at the humor of the Universe. Thanks for that.

Austin

2008-07-15T16:45:00.002-05:00

For the last 15 years, I've held Austin out as Mecca for when I'm feeling stunted in Kansas City. I feel like I'm stuck here but in reality, I'm the one who moved back here. I'm the one who made the bad decisions that led to me moving back here and technically, I'm only as stuck as I tell myself I am. So this year, my vacation spot of choice was Austin. Partly because I couldn't afford to go anywhere else, partly because Sage wanted to see this fabled city of gold and partly because I was ready to see if Austin was still as I remembered it, or if it had lost its luster since I left and since I'm in the over 40 crowd now.

Armed with stacks of CDs, we got in the car for the long road trip to the promised land.

I was pretty worried when the 11th hour of driving led us to the outskirts of Austin and there, in all its glory, was an exact replica of what I hate about Kansas City, strip malls for miles. The truth is, Austin's grown. Its spilling out over its jeans like a teenage girl with muffin top. Austin has managed to creep all the way north 30 miles or so to Georgetown leaving little evidence that the cities were once seperate. Sage looked around and said, "THIS is Austin?? It looks like Kansas." She was clearly disappointed that her aching butt was not going to be worth it. Feeling a lot less enthusiastic than I sounded, I said, "Oh, just wait til we get off the highway. Highways always look the same." As it turns out, my positivity paid off, and downtown Austin was pretty much how I remembered it.

We were lucky enough to have snagged a room in downtown Austin right on the lake near the Congress Avenue bridge that links South Austin with Central Austin. After settling in our hotel room we had a great first night in watching the 1 million bats emerge from that very bridge. The bats have made Austin their home in ever increasing number and Austin has embraced the newcomers and made them part of the city as they do with almost all newcomers. Austin is just that accommodating and full of southern hospitality. The bats are one of the top attraction for tourists and city dwellers alike.

It was under the bridge where I discovered that "Art is Dead." (I hadn't gotten the memo.)

For dinner went out to an Austin institution, Chuy's which was still there and exactly as I remember it complete with the neon sign and Elvis shrine inside.

This kitschy Tex Mex restaurant's main decor is Elvis memorabilia and colorful car parts from the 50's. The margaritas are strong and the salsa will sear your taste buds. What's not to love? While Chuy's may not be the best Tex Mex in town but it sure wins for me in the Austin ambiance department.

Austin is an oasis in the middle of what is otherwise a fairly conservative southern mentality. Austin is a pocket of hip and cool in a desert of Texas swagger. Yes, its the capital of Texas but its so much more than that. Perhaps due to the University of Texas being primary to the city, its got an eclectic, artsy, hippie feel all its own. Where else can you see cowboy hats mingling with dreadlocks, sometimes even on the same person. Where else can you slide down a sawdust dance floor to the sounds of Willy Nelson one minute and then jam to a reggae beat the next?

I'm glad to see the uniqueness is still there and I'm glad to see that not only is it still there, but part of what's grown in Austin is this too, not just cookie-cutter strip malls with obligatory chain restaurants. Austin has a campaign all its own to preserve the originality even. Everywhere you go, you see the slogan "Keep Austin Weird." I like this. I like that people are actually paying attention to what growth can do to the overall ambiance of a town. Austin is dotted with original and quirky shops and restuaruants all over town. The food is incredible and a huge variety abounds. We sampled the fare at many fine places.

Perched on the edge of the Hill Country, Austin has much to offer in the way of panoramic views, lakes, rivers and just pure nature like the view of Lake Travis to the left here.

It also has a spring fed pool right in the center of town that maintains a nice 66 degree water despite temps that often soar above 100. Within an hour away is the Guadalupe river which is also spring fed where you can rent tubes or canoes for a leisurely float down the river. Austin gets hot, so these are important diversions from the heat.

Along with the growth comes higher prices. I guess its inevitible. I used to live in Hyde Park which is a Central Austin neighborhood full of older Arts and Crafts style bungalows and just funky cool houses. Sage and I drove around and picked up Sale flyers only to find a 2 bedroom costs along the lines of oh...300-400K. Hmm, so if I move back, I may be able to afford this shinly silver lil beauty complete with pool in the front yard. I dunno, its got that Austin charm I've been missing. Looks cozy.

We drove around Austin alot, imagining what our life would be like if we lived there. We took day trips out into the hill country and the lakes. We even went all the way to San Antonio to Sea World. We were there for 6 fantastic days and we were so disappointed to have to leave despite the oppressive heat. We hadn't done everything I'd wanted to do. Sage cried the day before we were to leave because she knew it was her last day. I was proud to see she loved it as much as I did and that she really "got" the feel of the place and why I've always talked about it so wistfully and longingly. She wants to move there but for different reasons. She liked the cute boys there. For me, while boys aren't my main focus anymore I can understand the allure. For me its something else...I just can't shake the feel of the place. It feels like....home.

This Blogging Thing

2008-07-15T15:08:00.000-05:00

Ok, I'm determined to figure this blogging website out. I don't know why my brain just can't seem to get the concept down on here. Maybe if I just start typing the blogs will be put in the right place. Do I have time for this? No. Do I want people reading my secret thoughts? Eh, who cares? I tell people everything anyway....so I'm an open blog.