Every girl deserves a new summer look...

Ready for Swim Season

Zoë sports her sassy new 'do in the garden

April 18, 2008

Drawing winners!

Thanks to everyone who came to the Blue Mango Brunch! We are now out of mimosas and I had to pull a few of you off the lounge chairs and point you toward home...ride courtesy of the pool boy. Always the sign of a fun party!

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We had 34 individual entries. Instead of throwing in one extra pair of earrings, I decided to throw in two more pairs. So...each of you had greater than 1-in-12 odds for the drawing. I sincerely thank all of you for visiting and I wish I could mail every single one of you a pair!

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Independent panel of judges

This morning, my team of experts from Price Waterhouse Coopers (or, Dicey Nuthouse Poopers, I can't remember which) assembled in my family room for the drawing. Without further adieu, the winners are:

Lynn from the Vintage Nest

Things that Inspire

Lisa from Cakes and Cupboards

Ladies, you now have a decision to make. You can have a pair of the turquoise earrings pictured in the previous post OR a pair made with the beads below. This is not turquoise, it is dyed howlite. However, the more streamlined shape and pale aqua color make these beads very popular and make really nice earrings paired with the Balinese silver. I have enough beads to make either kind...so take your pick!

Dyed howlite beads

Please e-mail me at red_bougainvillea@hotmail.com by Saturday night if at all possible. I leave town on Sunday for 2 weeks and I need to get these made and ready to mail before I leave.

Once again, thanks to ALL of you who not only participated in the drawing, but who visit my blog. And if you like the style of my earrings and are interested in buying some for far less than at Sundance...I don't sell my jewelry, but my dear friend Anneliese does sell hers on Etsy. (See her shop on the sidebar). She has far more artistic talent and craftsmanship skills than me. I won't admit publicly how many spectacular pieces I own from her collection, but these are heirloom quality, folks. Her "day job" is COO of a credit union...and I have no idea how she does it all, but she does...and does it well. Check out the eye candy if nothing else!

Blue Mango 100th post Sunday Brunch Giveaway!

Sunday morning jazz in my garden

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Today marks my 100th post!

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To celebrate, I'm hosting a virtual Sunday jazz brunch here in the Blue Mango garden! The weather is gorgeous, the spa is bubbling, Zoë is on her best behavior, and I've got some Pink Martini on the sound system. (Click the player on the sidebar.) There are lots of gnosh and chilled mimosas. Would you like one? I'll summon my cabana boy. I had him dress in pink to match my flowers. ☺
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While you're sipping your drink, I want to thank you for being a part of my adventure in blogland.

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I heard a pretty funny crack about blogs the other day, from Dennis Miller, a twist on the old "If a tree falls in the forest" question: "If there's a blog on the Internet and no one is there to read it, is it really a blog?"

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Point well taken. Everyone seems to have a blog these days, including of course, myself. I want you to know how much I appreciate every one of you taking a moment out of your busy lives to stop by. Some of you are friends from my "brick and mortar" life and some of you are friends I've met through the connections of electrons. This blog has become exactly what I intended...not a business vehicle, not a dogmatic platform, but a way to stay connected with old friends and make some new ones. Your friendship, comments and your own individual blogs enrich my life. Thank you!

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So to celebrate my 100th post, I'm offering a giveaway as part of the Blue Mango brunch! Actually, the party is going to run a few days to give you time to enter. Stop by the jazz brunch and leave a comment before midnight Pacific time on Wednesday, 4/16, and your name will go into a drawing. The winner will receive a pair of Blue Mango earrings, made of turquoise and Balinese and sterling silver, handcrafted by moi here in the Sonoran Desert. Compare these to similar earrings selling for upwards of $35 in the Sundance Catalog.

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I know I have loyal international readers, and you can play, too... I will ship these anywhere in the world! And for every 25 entries, I will throw in another pair of earrings, so that you never have less than a 1-in-25 chance of winning a pair. So tell your friends!
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Okay, so those are the rules. Now refill your mimosa and go mingle!

No whining, redux

I had a little bit of a rough day today. I was out late last night across the Valley for work and didn't get home and in bed until after midnight. Maybe I was just tired, but it was one of those "meh" days. I stayed in my gym clothes all day. I *think* I brushed my teeth, but I can't remember! I took a few work-related calls and then I was a slug all day. I perused the Internet, watched TV.

... And I was lonely. I sat there in my gym clothes, then had a good cry for no apparent reason other than it felt good. I knew I should get up and walk the dog, or work in the garden, or meditate, or clean house or do some work...do something positive.

NO WHINING, I told myself! But I just sat there like a dejected hermit...deliberately choosing not to snap out of it. Until I checked the mail.

As I sorted through the mail, I saw a letter on nice paper stock with my name and address written in a vaguely familiar script. I looked at the return address and saw that it was a note from General Wilson. About a month ago, I told a story about the general giving me a "No Whining" pin 15 years ago when I worked for him. Taking Deborah Norville's gratitude advice, I dropped him a note, telling him about my chuckle looking at that pin and thanking him for the lesson. I wrote the letter, mailed it and forgot about it. But lo and behold, he wrote me back. It was a very nice letter and I will share this excerpt:

...I remember those pins well--I passed out very few, and only to my favorite people. But I also kept one for myself, and have had occasion to pull it out of the drawer and contemplate its message. I seldom override it--probably because of an ever-decreasing attention span more than anything else. ☺

He then went on to tell me about his retirement volunteer work doing public landscaping and how his number one mission these days is to spoil his three grandchildren (photos included). Lots of humor and lots of warmth.

My mood was instantly lifted. The letter arrived at just the perfect time and was just the medicine I needed. And the fact that even a combat-tested general needs to pull out the "No Whining" mantra now and then reminded me that I was not alone...we all have our "meh" days. ☺

An idyllic day...

With two masterpieces from my personal collection

Arcadia Farms Museum Cafe

Phoenix Art Museum
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I spent my birthday with my kids at the Phoenix Art Museum, where we ate lunch and saw the special exhibit, "Masterpiece Replayed: Monet, Matisse & More". I've been a fan of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists since I was a kid. As a senior in high school, I traded in my rock star posters for gallery prints by my favorites, Monet and and Toulouse-Lautrec. I've made it a point to seek out their works as I've traveled ever since.

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A&A had seen one of Monet's Waterlilies at the fabulous McNay Art Museum in San Antonio years ago when we lived there, but they were mere babes and don't remember it. I couldn't think of a better birthday delight than watching my kids witness their first Monet originals...To see the texture of the brushstrokes and the study in light up close and personal. Besides Monet's Haystacks and Rouen Cathedral series, we also saw works by Degas, Cezanne, Matisse, Millet, Delacroix and many more. Seeing Millet's The Sower today transported me back to my own adolescence when I stood with my father in the Louvre and saw Millet's The Gleaners, an unforgettable masterpiece. I hope A&A remember today as clearly as I remember that experience years ago.

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Now the kids are in bed and I'll go enjoy a glass of chardonnay and a movie before hitting my own haystack. Perhaps something especially artistic like Blades of Glory or My Super Ex-Girlfriend? Yes, we are very highbrow around here...☺

Chocolate Cake Zombie: A study in sugar

Embarking on my 40th year with the gifts of family, friends and Zen

Birthday flowers from Mike

April 2008

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Tomorrow is my 39th birthday and the start of my 40th year. I had a really fun Friday kicking off my birthday weekend...It started with breakfast with my coffee group friends, followed by lunch with a friend in the city. I came home from lunch to find an overnight air box on my doorstep, full of beautiful cut flowers--my favorites, irises and tulips--and lovely note, sent from my man ♥. My parents sent me some funny birthday cards in the mail, too.

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When you turn 39, of course the inevitable comment you receive is, "You're almost 40!" I'm not bothered by that fact at all; I am actually looking forward to turning 40 next year. I spent a few years in my mid-30s really figuring out how I want my life to be...taking stock of my strengths as well as acknowledging and accepting my limitations. As a result, I feel like I'm a stronger, better person now than I was 10 or even 5 years ago. I credit Zen mindfulness and meditation for a lot of this growth. Of course, there are still many things I want to see and do in life, and I hope that I will always continue to be open to growth and experience in various forms and philosophies.

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Last night I was talking with my dad on the phone and the conversation turned a little deep. At one point he said, "Do you ever have times in your life when out of the blue, you realize you are *this* close to really understanding the purpose and meaning of life and the universe...As if you get a glimpse and understanding of it all?"

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I completely understood what he was describing. I think I've always understood what's really important in life, largely thanks to the way I was raised. But it has only been as I've approached 40 that I've started to really FEEL the deeper purpose of life, the earth, the universe.

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I don't know if someone can teach you that or whether you just have to figure it out on your own. Some of it comes from the strength of life experience and some from just mellowing with age. No one has all the answers, and I'm skeptical of anyone who claims they do. Enlightenment is an evolution that takes a lifetime and perhaps more. But I do know that you have to be open to the idea of receiving the lessons in order to have those moments of clarity that Dad described.

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As babies, we come into this world alone, with our receivers wide open. Our life experience and increasing responsibilities and limitations jam our receivers over time. I guess you could call it a sort of electronic warfare on the soul. Some people never clear the signal and carry on with resulting distortion. As I use the tools of Zen mindfulness and meditation to increase my awareness, the gift is higher fidelity. Like my father, from time to time, my reception is crystal clear and I get a glimpse of the full bandwidth of the universe.

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As I embark on my 40th year, I plan to spend the rest of my life fine tuning my reception. And on this birthday, I am most thankful for the gifts of loving family and friends and my nascent Zen wisdom.

Special spaces...

My patio table

April 2007

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I'm a big believer that we all deserve to live in a space that makes us smile when we walk in the door. I like my space to reflect who I am, where I've been and offer an indication of where I'm dreaming of going.

That doesn't mean you have to be planted in your dream house to create that feeling. To the contrary, I think we can create it just about anywhere. I think we've all seen homes, large and small, that just leave you flat. (I feel that way about most model homes. They're pretty on the surface, but generally lack soul.) On the other hand, we've all seen spaces that just seem to speak to us. They're warm, inviting and reflect the personalities of the inhabitants.

Over the years, my taste in how to decorate my home has evolved. The long and short of it is that I am now all about relaxed living with the occasional elegant touch and artistic flair. I don't want my home to ever take itself too seriously. I don't want any space off-limits. I like splashes of color in textiles, art and pottery. I like texure and patina. I love flowers, birds and nature.

In that vein, my favorite space in my home is my backyard space. Given our climate, it's our outdoor family room much of the year. It's also our sanctuary from the stress of daily life. The space is especially rewarding because aside from the pool and some hardscape work (which we designed but hired out) we created our back yard space out of pure sweat equity and on budget.

This morning after getting the kids off to school, I came home and had a peaceful breakfast of toast, strawberries and coffee on my patio. Zoe stretched out at my feet and I listened to the sound of doves in the trees and quail on my fence.

I still have projects I want to accomplish back there, as time and budget allow. But in the meantime, I am so thankful for this space.

What special spots have you created in and around your home that lift your spirit and reflect your personality?