It's quite grey in New York today. The buildings, the sky, the sidewalk.grey, gray, grey (both are acceptable spellings, you know...)but i've already noticed the shift of light. the days are starting to get e v e r - so - s l i g h t l y   longer.yup. they are.microscopic seconds longer - yes - but longer.Hope you are all having a wonderful, wonderful day!

The years seem to go faster, don't they?They almost seem like months. Months seem like weeks.Life is just happening. Right now -- as I write this -- life is just happening.People are thinking of clever status updates, people are dancing in the street, they are loving, they are sleeping, they are kissing, they are fighting, they are typing, working, reading, dreaming, thinking and so much more.This life is just here. This life can be complicated - don't be fooled, young children. but I promise pinky promise even - that it's wonderful.it's beautiful.In all it's whirring madness with those days of quiet, days of stillness, days of joy, lazy days, painful days, bored days, whatever they may be...this life is lovely.Especially when you live it.And that is e x a c t l y what I intend to do.Here's to a New Year and what it will bring:more art. more love. more painting. more music. friends. sunshine. pretty things. glitter! learning. listening. being.But you can't start the year without having some nostalgia for the last one...so many fun times with friends. yay! yay! yay! yay!jazz parties with waldo. furry fluffs. making a difference. key west.visiting my favorite georgian peach.learning those same lessons over and over again.family. going home.art **photo mosaic made with this awesome free download by andrea mosaic

You must be decked out in sparkles and look extremely over-the-top.This Christmas I participated in one of the most moving, volunteer experiences ever. I was part of the entertainment for a Christmas Dinner.The event was amazing and I'm already planning a costume for next year.Here are some photos from the day courtesy of Michael McTwigan and Amy Drucker.

Happy holidays friends!Whatever you celebrate, wherever you are... I hope you have a super, lovely day!Love,Me and the kitties

 

Hello December,Your days are shorter.Your prefer the dark and the sun on the side rather than hanging right above our heads.Your temperature is erratic. (climate change anyone?)But there's always good music to listen to.  

I have been with the darkest parts of myself.

The parts filled with self-hatred, the ones that can't find kindness. The parts that think no matter what, I'm just not enough. Not creative enough, Not thin enough, not smart enough, not aware enough, not caring enough, not there enough. Just not enough.

These parts care far too much about what they, he, she, and you will think....But we all have our parts. They are what make us ... well us. They are raw. They are real.

And maybe...just maybe, it's better to stand face to face with these parts. To really sit with them, to hold their hand and remind them of kindness and light.

Tell them to grasp something...anything...and just hold on. Just be.

And maybe...just maybe, with enough   s p a c e  that tiny, stronger voice will come back. It will say, enough to those harsh voices and it will be okay.

**Love,

a stronger you from another moment in time…

That makes you laugh.Dancing snitches + broomsticks + fearless people not afraid to get hurt (they are running with broomsticks!) + very busy paramedics + butter beer (actually, they were out but the idea is lovely) + friends = a super awesome time at the Quidditch World Cup 2011! The walk from Randall's Island back to Manhattan was also an adventure.Thanks friends! For a very fun time!

I can't believe it's November.Soon it will be 2012.!?!?!This month usually brings me a little down, but this month I choose happiness.But if that sadness perks it's head up, I'll let it flow through me because I know that it will pass. That those uncomfortable feelings and loss will ebb and flow and that I'll be alright.and music always mends the soul...*direct link*

A friend of mine needed some business cards, so I decided to make some out of watercolor. I think they turned out nicely! (minus the fact that they are all slightly crooked! I can't cut in a straight line, but it gives them character.)Pardon the grainy photos, I took these on my phone a few minutes before meeting her to hand them over.Good luck at the conference friend!xoxo

My cousin from Germany and her friend came to visit me last week. Ten days with the Germans (yes, they have names, but it was fun calling them this) was a total riot.

• Their love for Colby jack cheese was funny. Apparently this cheese is not available where they are from.
• I remembered more German than I thought and we had many conversations (although, my cousin would beg to differ) in this foreign tongue.
• I ate too many sweets.
• The night of dancing til 3:00 am was very memorable, especially at the point when one of the girls asked, "Where are the Germans!?!" Where were they? Taking pictures of the very large mirrors in the bathroom area.
• It was fun introducing them to all of my friends.
• Francesca, I want that hipster hat!
• We laughed a lot.
• There was one bad cooking incident and our house was full of smoke. I still plan on writing a letter to the store about the bread without cooking directions!
• The cats were slightly jealous of the company, but were sad when they left. I might have even shed some tears with them.
• We had a sing-a-long that last until 1:00 am. My gosh, my friend Katy really does have the loveliest voice ever.
• The inside track of the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island really stirred up my motion sickness, but watching the girls reactions made it well worth it.
• Did I mention how awesome the German chocolate was? Schoko-bons=heavenly
• Despite the technology of Google translator, Hayden's random questions to the Germans were still confusing. The Kase frage about Colby vs. Jack was especially tricky.
• Coffee and lazy mornings=bliss
• Katy Perry Pandora is pretty great for getting dolled up.
• Our corner store must really think we are crazy.
• This list could go on and on. But I'll end it here. All in all, a wonderful trip.

Liebling cousinne! Du felst mir sehr! Und Steffi auch! Jetz, wir besuchen oych!(to the grammar sticklers: it's all about making sure you are understood, so HA! That said, I'd love a language buddy!)

xoxoxsee all images 

These two are adorable.That's all.happy Wednesday!

We grow a lot faster than trees, he said, so we miss a lot of stuff.-brian andreas

Last Thursday, I went to a great show with some great girls.If you haven't heard the Milk Carton Kids, then you need to download (for free - say what?!?!) their music right now because they are amazing. Their lyrics made me misty eyed and swooning over love.If you haven't heard Gaby Moreno, then you're in for a super treat. At one point, I made a "yeeaaaah" shout because she was just. that. good. Yes. I have a new girl crush (you will too).If you haven't heard The Kin, you haven't heard harmonies this sweet. (plus, not bad on the eyes either)...listen here or in the player below **But these lovely ladies are what made the show and the night. Lots of laughter and smiling.I am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life!thanks for a fun night lovelies!xoxo

Here are some snaps of before and after...Pre-sketching last weekend...

NY Cares Day outside mural team...

Happy volunteers and indoor murals...

Finishing touches outside....(I had to leave early to pick up my cousin from Germany [posts on this soon!])

Happy students this morning!

NY Cares Day 2011 (as always) was a great success!

Thank you to everyone that participated. We *quite literally* brightened this school and neighborhood. While the volunteers were at lunch, I worked on accents and highlights, while doing this a little girl from an apartment building called down..."Hey! That looks real nice." Knowing that she will have a brighter view makes me smile.

Thank you to everyone involved!

Or global warming fall??Either way this weather has been ridiculously beautiful and the past few weeks have been deliciously fun.

There's something about being in an art studio/class that makes my heart skip and feel calm at the same time. The smell of paint, the paint covered easels from previous students, being surrounded by other talented artists eager to paint and learn - it all makes me happy.So as soon as I walked into the room last night, I felt comfortable. I was at ease.But feeling challenged is also good and I want to grow as an artist.What does this mean? That for the next few weeks I draw.I'm very nervous about drawing. I admit that I hide in my blurry color swirls, but I think  (know) that brushing up on these fundamentals will ultimately help me create even better paintings.As one guy put it, "it's like taking two sticks and making a fire. Once you do that, you can do anything."So here's to trying new things.These are some snaps of my new painting. Let's see what happens after a few weeks of drawing and when I return to painting. It will be an interesting experiment!