Dear friend,I can't believe you got married a week ago! Seriously. And now with your hyphenated-apostrophe-happy name I'll never be able to forget it. I remember when we were childhood friends; chasing cats, dreams, and each other! How much fun did we have? Making up all of those stories? Haunted passage ways in old barns? Kitty birthday parties ("Breathing Problem" was your favorite cat and she loved you!) and weddings! And here we are, a little over a decade later and now YOU'RE married!!?!??!!That's freaking awesome. And wonderful. And s'marvelous!!!!!!**insert super sappy hug here**And I love your man. He's super sweet. Like sweet tea...with lots of sugar. ;)As your witness (I am so honored that I got to sign that paper) and someone that's grown up with you, I am so happy that you have someone so wonderful to grow old with. :) I am so happy for you two!I love you friend! And thanks for making sure I made it back to NYC alright.Here are a few photos from your special day (and the night before, how can we forget the free popcorn I scored) The highlight? Playing Sorry at the coffee house and drinking cheap champagne to celebrate. :)Much love to both of you and your damn hyphen-apostrophe-happy name. :) You know all of the good stuff that I wish for you - love, snuggles, and all that jazz :)xo**I love you friend!!What a wonderful day! And Melanie -- THANK YOU beautiful for taking photos! I can't wait to see what your camera brings! Calee -- it was great seeing you, thanks for stopping by (AJ and Roy, thanks for letting her!).And lastly. Freddy and Abby are such a delight. :)(he almost looks angelic here, like he won't mess with your Christmas tree!)May your love bring you lots and lots of kitty squishes!xop.s. Dear Iowa. Please stay progressive!

The older I get, the sappier I get. I'm sure of this. But I think that's alright. One of my favorite things about being in Iowa is being able to drive. Something about the open road clears my head. It gives me space to think and be. I listen to music, belt show tunes, look around (even after all this time, I know to watch for deer!), and I can't help but notice how beautiful Iowa is. It really is amazing. There's something about a sunset over an open cornfield that is really beautiful.As I was driving home from my thanksgiving with Dandeena, I teared up and thought about how thankful I was for everything:My friends, their quirks, my quirks, my emotions, birds, flowers, the sky and all its color, ditches, cornfields, the ocean, air, New York, Iowa, Oklahoma, Key West, memories, furry things, the Internet and it's ability to keep people connected, words and the way some stitch them together in prose or when quiet people throw out things that bring out a hearty laugh. My camera, music, good food, warmth, my health, this list goes on...But the most important thing I've been thinking about is family, and how thankful I am for the family I have created. I had an interesting childhood, some may call it traumatic, but the one thing I realized today is that I am DAMN lucky for everything I have. I am also thankful for my dad and the new people that surround him. There's a point when you realize that things can be okay and more importantly, that you want them to stay that way. I am here and I'm happy about this. I just want happiness for myself and those in my life.As a little girl, I liked to collect things, I had numerous trinkets and treasures. As an adult, I am still a collector -- less of objects (because there's no room in my tiny apartment) but more of my friends, stories, and all of our memories. So on that note, I am so thankful for all of you.So thank you all. For being wonderful, open, accepting, making me laugh, and constantly reminding me that I am enough, just as I am. And that while I can't change things, I shouldn't try because everything will naturally change on it's own. And it's even better that way.Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

My childhood best friend is getting married and thanks to Iowa supporting gay marriage, he can. As a witness, I am very excited for this day! It's a big deal! We're on our way to Iowa City for the big event!**In case you didn't figure it out, I'm in Iowa! I'm having a blast and have a ton of photos! There's just not enough time to see everyone. So Iowa-folk- I'm sorry if I don't get to see you!Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!and remember that all you need is love. :)credit: Katie Sokoler

There are a couple of things that make me really happy: being in love and being creative.Since love (and life) can be confusing (hard, frustrating, irritating) at times, I find that being creative is my only constant and it usually brings me back to clarity (happiness, serenity).This weekend I worked on collages with the photos from Key West. I started off with many layers of paper, photos, modge podge and painted on some watercolor paper. It sort of looks like a tornado went through here, but I am pretty happy with how they are turning out!What do you think?Either way, I'm having fun! :) And looking at the photos definitely made me miss Key West and the sunshine! I think it's time to taking the vitamin d!Hope you all had a great weekend! :)xo

I took a hiatus from the Visions class, but after last night I realized why I missed it and must return. The students are fun and we make awesome projects.We all decorated these gold foliage with sparkles and paper, but then I decided we should make a whole collage full of glitter and tissue paper.So we did.The result: glitter-rific awesomness!There was a tiny glue spill, but it was perfect for impromptu tissue paper flowers! To make - just smash tissue paper scraps (people's floor scraps are perfect) into balls on the paper - and voila!Textured flowers!We also made glitter designs. I had her follow my hand so she could understand the shapes that we were making.Birds~Swirls~So much glitter!! (sorry for the blur, taken with my glittery hand holding the phone!)This project was really fun for both of us and my student proud of her work!**Have I told you how much I LOVE sparkles?!What do you love? What are your favorite crafty projects? And lastly...how do you think this project would go over with my kids in Art Explorers? I think they'd like it, but it would be glitter maddness!Anyway, hope you all had a happy hump day!xo**btw: I started this post while I was in choir today - our concert is coming soon! December 17, 2010 - save the date!btw2: Kristin Chenoweth is incredible in Glitter and be Gay

is the going rate of oranges in Brooklyn. Sometimes grocery stores can be fun! Ana started with the shots of the cucumbers and tomatoes, then we decided we had to get the rest of the fruits and peppers.The rest of my Sunday included holiday decor....more indulgent food...and considering starting a podcast with HT...just in case...Dear friends:What are some of your favorite podcasts?What kinds of topics would you listen to?and would you listen?

This years daylight savings time brought a savory pie and some lavender cookies with some wonderful people.Since Michael was in town, we had to make a pie. He works at the Farmer's Market in Iowa City and sells delicious pies. For those IC folk - go to the Farmer's Market and treat yourself!Last night we decided to make a savory cheddar and onion pie around 2:00 am. Around 3:00 we decided we wanted more to eat than onions and experimented with the spices in Hayden's kitchen...the result ~ a savory pie and lavender cookies.After the cooking extravaganza, we were pretty tired and still had to make the bed which was extremely loud and had to be muted only to create fire hazard in Hayden's lap!Twenty minutes later - success. :)Thanks friends for a fun weekend. And Michael for your excellent recipes!btw. The lavender cookies could be very good - but next time we'll crush the lavender because biting into it was like eating potpourri.**Hope you all had a great weekend!

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!I spent most of Sunday walking around looking taking pictures of things that ...made me laugh~made me smile... (this little kitty visited me while I was picking out art supplies)made me squishy! (and this kitty was very happy that I visited her!)made me look up in awe... the foliage is so pretty!made me ask questions ~ real wedding or costume?and just made me so happy to be in New York!With it's people watching...the park....and crazy Halloween decorations...there really is no place like it!So all of you faraway friends, come for a visit! :)

Kristen and Anthony asked if I'd be an artist in the first Halloween Carnival. They live in the perfect place (i.e. creepy as heck basement!) for this event to happen.Halloween Carnival is....an Interactive Performance Installation and the collaborative work of 15 artists that travels through 7 rooms of a basement:Come explore...*Aqu A*Creepy rooms in *America!*And America! in photos! This is my installation. It's a mix of humorous, sad, and beautiful photos meant to create a mix of emotions. This will be an ongoing piece for future events, encouraging others to submit their photos of how they see America. I look forward to seeing other submissions through the years!Prep~Hanging~lastly, the event will end with a dance party in *Feti-feti*Interested?come check it out.

Holy crap is it Monday again? Seriously. I barely remember the past two weeks, it's been something like this; work, work, work, work, sketching, sketching, sketching, sleep, coffee, coffee, work, work, work, sketching, sleep, coffee, work work, work, and trying to see people in between to maintain sanity!But now, I have a tiny moment to breathe. To come up for air like my fish, Deadline. :)

One of my projects is done! New York Cares Day 2010 was on Saturday and the school I worked on received a huge makeover! From the garden, to books, to the murals, it's hard to believe we accomplished so much in one day! But we did!

After an exhausting day - I'm proud of my version of Klimt's "Tree of Life". I hope this will be an inspiration to kids every day!

**Not only did we paint the cafeteria, but we helped the school yard. Before it was a block of concrete and now there are several games for the gym teacher to lead! This morning, we received a big thank you from our happy students!

To all the volunteers, thank YOU for participating! We couldn't have done it without you! Until next year's NYCD! :)

all photos from iphones - thanks Alexxa for some of these pics! :)

shewas somewhere in betweenwhat she really wanted versus what the world told her to want...it was a strange place to be...so,she explored honesty to help her sort through the different maybes.and,she found that change was the only constant.it isn't effortless.but it's worth the effort.

I'm having one of those "life moments". The ones were you realize that THIS is your life and you should think about what in the world you are really doing with yourself. Or maybe you realize that what you're doing is...well...actually fine. It's more than writing about it in fluffy language about "growing and yada-yada-yada". I admit, I do this a lot. I'm often very dramatic and such when I think I'm having an epiphany and "figuring it out".**My first moment like this was in Iowa City in the IMU. After graduating I was in denial of the "now-what-am-I-supposed-to-do" thing. I fought it. I fought it hard. I did everything I could. I even maintained several of my college activities, including a radio show. One day after the show, I was walking through the IMU and realized that they were finishing the construction they started my first year at Iowa.!!! Holy crap...what am I doing here? I need to figure this out...!!!!!!!!!!Ultimately, it took a year to figure anything out. I stayed in Iowa City and did a bunch of random things; including a lot of community theatre, singing in a jazz band, lots of art, and I got jazzed about the environment (sorry for being too soap-boxy). Also, I didn't have a job. I'd give plasma and work any odd job I could find.I was the queen of finding odd jobs and giving them to my friends. (you're all very welcome for the time at the farm - flying insect killer, creeping charlie, raspberry bushes, Big Blue, baby chickens, weird Asian trinkets, and all)...Fast forward three years and I'm in charge of many different things. One of the things I'm working on is finding some volunteers for a paid event. This is something I would have jumped on like crazy and passed it onto my other "artsy-non-working" friends.The thing is. (yes ht, there's a thing...)Most of my friends/you are working now.We all have jobs.Some are married.Some have children.THIS FREAKS ME OUT.I've known these things for awhile. I talk about love and weddings all of the time. I've seen adorable babies and seen my friends' families grow. I know the years are passing faster and faster.but for whatever reason, tonight as I was sifting through my contacts for some people for this event, I realized my circle of friends has gotten smaller - which is mostly because I've made it this way - and my circle of friends in need of paid volunteering is even smaller.which means nothing in particular. except that we're all growing. and changing. or something. much like that time at the IMU, i'm not sure what it means. but i think that's okay...and maybe, that's the point.**

For my lunch break, I bought a fish.His name is Deadline...in case you're wondering...he does have a return policy. :)not that i expect to need it....

It's infuriating when the NY subways do not work, especially when you have to travel from Manhattan, to Queens, to Brooklyn, and back to Manhattan.I started with my NY Cares Art Explorers volunteering in Queens. There was an Asthma Awareness event and we took the opportunity to teach the kids about the environment."Healthy Air Helps our Earth, Polluted Air Hurts our Health!" (i was very excited about making this up on my own! :D hehe)We did split screen drawings based on the phrase, representing a healthy environment vs. what pollutes it. Kids were able to do their own drawings and add to a larger mural.They got very creative!and I loved listening to them talk about saving the environment. :)Hooray!**The event had a bunch of balloons...Which made me think of my friend, Calee and her birthday!I meant to leave her a full birthday message, but didn't finish...:(Happy belated birthday! I hope you had a HAPPY day. :)and thank you, Kim L. for an awesome lunch!**That night, I went to Brooklyn and had to take a long walk, to get to the motion-sickness inducing bus. Most of the walk was by a cemetery, which made for some eerie photos.Hayden and I had a fun night of conversation, but getting back to Manhattan was a nightmare.The L train wasn't working, so I had to take a cab because it was NOT clear how to get back to the city using public transportation!!! I got stuck in a cab on the Williamsburg bridge in non-moving traffic.I was NOT happy.Thank you MTA for helping me pollute the earth in a non-moving gas guzzling car!BUT...the Empire State Building was very pretty...Ironically, Sunday was Eco-fest day.When Hayden and I met, we laughed because were both wearing mustard yellow!the event was really...interesting...with music, dancing, activism...and a Tibetan sand artist creating designs for peace....We ended up walking through the canyons of the financial district...and watched the sun set in Battery Park..On my way back, I found a nut on the ground which I gave to a cute squirrel this morning. :)**Did you know that New York is missing bunnies? We do not have bunny rabbits. I wish we did, but the squirrels are pretty cute. :)So friends, what did you do this weekend?

!!!In case that wasn't clear - HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHY!!and just because you're learning German.alles Gute zum Geburtstagbut because i don't want to look too crazy at my desk, you only get that message in English!I love you friend! Have a great day. :)Sending you lots of love from New York!I hope you have an awesome day because YOU are awesome. :)

...and that's all it took for me to start laughing again...**Dear friends:Mary - thank you - for this moment, the other moments, and all the upcoming ones that remind me that laughter is the best medicine. I'm sorry I got "curl-happy" with your hair. :) It did look beautiful in the end.Bethy - thank you for making me laugh uncontrollably with your sense of humor and ponder-isms.....and for making us stand in front of this "totally nude" sign...(p.s. who is this guy??)Jenna - thank you for dancing like no one is watching and reminding me that we should all be this way....your confidence and faith are unwavering and truly inspiring.Brittanie - thank YOU for reminding me that I should never apologize for my "gooey-ness". I love knowing that someone else loves love as much as I do. :)your faith in love and family reminds me that "home" is whatever I want it to be.and Katie ~ thank you for your writing and thoughtful mind. We missed you dearly, but you were there with us in spirit.**This summer one of my very best friends in the entire world got married. Their wedding was truly a fairy tale - which is perfect considering we used to take car rides belting out Disney princess gooey love tunes.Yes, this wedding was as perfect as it looks. :)All photos taken by Freeland photography

...saw a lot of cats...(but i'm not posting all of their photos!)enjoyed the Saturday sunshine...had some tasty beverages...cherry lemonade~lattes~watched some college football in a groovy apartment~Go Hawks!(the light wasn't actually this purple, but I was having fun with filters..)but this chandelier was this pretty!And saw some pretty light on the Empire State Building.**How was your weekend?Hopefully it was splendid!xoxo

This will be my third year being a mural artist for NY Cares Day. It's one of my favorite projects because anyone can participate. Last year, I worked with over 100 volunteers and it was an absolute blast. The year before that, I was primarily with my friends (that was fun, and thanks to all who participated!). I'm not sure how many volunteers will participate this year, but I am very excited about my sketches.

Admittedly, at first I was very nervous about this year's project because we have a very talented art teacher on board. He and his students have already painted incredible murals throughout their school and I didn't want mine to pale in comparison! But then I remembered that this day is more about the volunteers and giving them an opportunity to feel creative and helping others - so I've sketched some ideas that can be easily painted (with a paint-by-color system) and that incorporate major artists.

These are still a little rough, but I think this will be a fun project!

Cafeteria~ The current cafeteria has these wonderful paintings of historical figures in a cafe. I wanted to continue this theme, but opened it up to being an outdoor cafe, leading into musicians playing in central park. From there it turns into a more music/Harlem themed mural. I looked up some different Harlem Renaissance artists. I wanted something colorful and lively - I looked up William H. Johnson and got the idea of the dance. This will lead back into a cafe in front of some live music by Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington on piano. I left the cafe part open, so the volunteers can draw in more characters on their own.

Stairwell~ To continue with the theme of artists, I thought it might be nice to go with George Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon". I'd like to keep a few of his elements, but again, allow the volunteers to add in more modern types of people. It might be a neat idea to ask the kids who they'd see in the park, and we could draw their ideas as well. This tree will go up the stairwell and lead into tree. I'd like to create our own version of Gustav Klimt's "Tree of Life". The tree will continue with his circular pattern, but I'd like to incorporate different types of typography and inspirational words. This isn't sketched out as clearly, but hopefully this explanation helps. In the background of the tree, would be iconic landmarks around the world including the Eiffel tower and the NYC skyline. This is yet, another opportunity for volunteers/kids to add more of their own thoughts.

Every Wednesday, I sing in a choir in Greenwich Village. I love that neighborhood. It's probably my favorite in the city - I love the windy streets and pretending I live in beautiful townhouses. I imagine I'd own the whole thing, that I'd have an entire floor as an art studio with a couple of cats running around, and that all of my friends would live on the same street. The house would be filled with love, music, and awesome dinner parties.I love daydreaming.Choir is fun and often challenging. It makes me happy to know that I can still site read and hit high notes! I love the challenge of reading music and wish I would have paid more attention in college music theory classes - so I would understand all the types of cadences we are singing.After choir we go out as a group to this placed called, Tavern on the Jane. It is fun sketching on the tables and catching up with the group! I've enjoyed getting to know new members and hear choir love stories. Two of the members in our choir are married and met in a choir years ago! Adorable!!Here are a few of my sketches from last night (as seen through my iphone).I've been trying to train my eye again and sketch what I see.the buildings are from a painting that was on the wall.red wine adds some color!While waiting to walk, my friend and I were standing. He was doing some stretches. Since I'll be starting McKinze's Yoga challenge tomorrow, I figured I'd stretch on the sidewalk with him. In the stretch he was doing, one leg was crossed over his thigh, and he bent down on one leg.I tried this stretch, tumbling a little.me: hmm... (while struggling)... I'm not that balanced.Chris: I wish I could have recorded that.another speaking without thinking moment.Happy Thursday folks! We're almost done with the week! I've been working on some gifts using the Key West photos - I'll finish them tonight and hope to post tomorrow!