Sketching Life

And The Winner Is ...

2010-03-09T17:24:00.001-08:00

My husband joked around on Sunday, saying that he was an "Oscars widower". It was kind of true as I settled down for an evening of glitz, glamour, awards and knitting. Truthfully I don't care that much about who wins Best Director or Best Sound Mixing, and I am grateful for a DVR so that I can skip through all of the acceptance speeches. I want to see the fashion!

The Good: looks that I loved

Can I just say ... STUNNING! Sandra Bullock was hands down THE winner of the night when she accepted her Best Actress award wearing this amazing dress. It's like she thought about what she would look like if she received a statue and was perfection from head to toe. Some criticized the shade of lipstick she wore but I think it was an accessory and completed the look.

Wowee! I think this is the first time that I saw Cameron Diaz looking like a timeless woman at the Oscars. Her hair was so pretty and I am drawn in by the two-tone crystals on her gown.

The Bad: looks that I really didn't love

Oh my. Oh dear. Okay, I understand that this dress was probably Haute Couture, an art piece. But the only good things about it that I can say is that the color looked good on Charlize Theron, as did the silhouette. I don't think I even need to address the two cinnamon buns she is wearing on her chest.

Hmmm ... where do I start? Well, I actually like the color combination and sort of appreciate the design of the front of the dress minus the weird strap across the neck. Other than that the look is all wrong. What is up with that hair Sarah Jessica Parker? Blech!

I have mixed feelings about putting this dress in "The Bad" category. It's actually not that bad, but to me it looks like a bridesmaid dress. From the waist up Kate Winslet is gorgeous and that necklace is to die for. But the skirt is just ugly with the greige colored satin and dated pleating. Pretty hair though.

The "Meh": looks that left me feeling indifferent

The skirt of this dress is so dreamy. It makes me think of a Disney princess. I wasn't too excited about the stiff bodice, the weird bracelet and the color on Amanda Seyfried; but other than that it was a pretty look.

I like this dress. The silhouette and the color are nice. But like the person wearing it, it is a little on the boring side. I guess I think of Kristen Stewart as more tomboyish, so she seems out of place in the high fashion gown. I think more jewelry would have greatly perked up this ensemble.

From the waist down this look excited me - what a gorgeous skirt! From the waist up I think the bustier didn't fit Miley Cyrus and her hair looked matronly. A darker lip would have been nice too.

Over all, I thought the gowns on the Red Carpet were lovely this year. I don't feel as let down as I did in 2009 and even if I didn't see any of the nominated Best Picture movies (except for Disney's Up). It was a great night at the Oscars!

Uh Oh ... I'm In Trouble Now!

2010-03-08T17:49:00.000-08:00

Of course I know full well that Easter is about celebrating the resurrection of my Lord and Savior. I know that chicks and bunnies and eggs have little to do with that. And I know that candied Easter eggs don't exactly say "Jesus is Risen".

But ... oh how I do love to eat said candied Easter eggs! More than the candy of Halloween and of Christmas, the confections of this holiday really tickle my fancy. And much to my dismay/delight, I see that Cadbury Mini Eggs now come in dark chocolate ... which means I celebrate every time I plunge my fingers into the candy jar.

Eggy In An Acorn

2010-03-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

I was pregnant at the time I saw the movie V for Vendetta, so I have a very dim recollection of its plot and characters. I do recall Natalie Portman shaving her head, and that a masked vigilante made a breakfast sandwich of sorts called "Eggy in a Basket".

My husband, who doesn't do much of the cooking around here, was busy tinkering in the kitchen one day. Sneaking a peak I realized that he was hard at work making one of these breakfast sandwiches ... but with a special twist: instead of using a biscuit cutter to make the "basket" in the bread, he used other shaped cookie cutters like an acorn and a tea kettle. He informed me that the trick is to use a cutter big enough to hold the egg so that it cooks flush with the bread.

First, butter the bread on both sides, then make a hole in a fun shape.

Put the buttered bread in a skillet - cast iron works great for this - and add a little butter in the center of the whole to keep the egg from sticking.

Crack an egg directly into the hole and cook on medium-low until the egg turns white and sets around the edge of the hole. Then flip to cook the other side (this method is for "eggs over medium"). Patience is important because you want the bread and eggs to cook evenly and thoroughly.

Isn't it cute? And very creative, I think. Don't throw away the buttered bread "center" because it can be cooked in the same pan or toasted for sopping up the runny yoke.

My husband and daughter enjoyed the fruits of Daddy's labor. Sadly, my son takes after me and doesn't care for eggs; but he joins me in giving the creativity and presentation a big thumbs up!

Spring Cleaning Carnival: Week One

2010-03-03T15:40:00.000-08:00

Recently, I saw on The Nourishing Gourmet blog a movement to get people in motivated to do some Spring Cleaning. I for one appreciate having something to follow to stay focused, and since this blog is starting with the kitchen, I thought I'd give it a try.

My kitchen isn't in bad shape, but it's not exactly gleaming and perfectly organized. I often have the desire to get things spic and span, but my busy life and fatigue issues often won't allow me to get much done. That's why I like this program as it focuses the whole month of March on the kitchen, and the first week is all about getting the refrigerator and freezer cleaned out. I like that I have an entire week to accomplish this, at my own pace and on my own schedule. I've decided to begin to tackle the refrigerator today as I make my list for grocery shopping. Going through everything, discarding the old, wiping down shelves and drawers, and arranging containers really helps with planning meals.

Here are the "before" shots. Yikes! It's not pretty, but soon it will be.

Much better! In these "after" shots it is evident that the back of the fridge can be seen!

Lessons learned:

1. More frequent cleanings really are necessary; still I was pleased that I didn't have too many expired items to discard.

2. Don't just wipe out the drawers! Today I actually removed the drawers to clean them top to bottom and I found that something, at some time had dripped down below the bottom drawer. Now, I will spare the details, but let me just say that the words yuck, gross, and disgusting didn't even describe what I had to clean up! I am still trying to recover from the horror that I saw.

3. Baking soda totally rocks! I will be purchasing a fresh box ASAP because it's powerful odor fighting proved to keep me blissfully unaware of what was under that bottom drawer.

Aside from that unpleasant task, the state of my fridge wasn't too bad - especially since my last post on subject. My freezer is a different story. I admit, I am afraid of what might be lurking in there!

For The Love Of Tea

2010-03-02T12:09:00.000-08:00

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." - C.S. Lewis

I have written about it before. I have a serious problem ... I am obsessed with tea. And not just any tea, but plain old black tea. English, Irish or Ceylon, I don't care where it's from I just can't stay away from it! It brings me comfort in the morning as I eat my breakfast; it brings me comfort in the afternoon when I settle in for a few minutes of knitting; it is my go-to for a cup of steaming peace.

Black tea is not the healthiest choice, however, for one with chronic pain. Recent weeks have brought me incredible discomfort and fatigue, and I am desperately trying to cut back on my rather embarrassing consumption. I have tried green tea which is very good for increasing energy levels, but simply put it tastes like grass water. Herbal tea is fine and I drink it at night, but it gives me little satisfaction. I have come to the realization that black tea can never be eliminated from my diet fully, despite the advice of Fibromyalgia experts. How can they take away one of the few joys I have while in such pain?

My love affair with this ancient beverage goes back to when I was in college and designed a book for my graphic design class my senior year. Cleverly called "Brimming Over" this book was a journey from the crop to the cup, describing the origins, history and cultivation of both coffee and tea. Through my explorations with finding the perfect images for my project, I discovered that I actually find a used tea bag kind of beautiful. I know, I'm way too crazy about tea! But hey, it's better and healthier than being too crazy about other fermented beverages. So I feel somewhat justified.

And yes, I have already had two glorious cups today, but I'm cutting myself off. Yeah, no more tea for sure. Well, maybe just ONE more cup ...

Kelly ... The 2010 Version

2010-03-01T16:19:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have filled out one of these questionnaires. Periodically one will come around and it is fun too look back to see how my answers have changed over time. This is Kelly, the early 2010 version:

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30

2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the movie theater? Sherlock Holmes

4. What is your favorite TV show? right now I am digging Project Runway and 30 Rock

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar and a cup of English Breakfast tea

6. What is your middle name? Michelle

7. What food do you dislike? seafood, most condiments, hot dogs

8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Wolfgang Amadeus by Phoenix

9. What kind of car do you drive? 2003 Honda Pilot

10. Favorite sandwich? grilled herbed chicken with brie

11. What characteristic do you despise? selfishness

12. Favorite item of clothing? black & ivory Moschino skirt that I got for $25 – never worn with tags!

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Paris!

14. Favorite brand of clothing? lately I have been into French Connection and Banana Republic

15. Where would you retire to? Bend, the Oregon Coast or Ashland (yeah, I can handle the weirdness!)

16. What was your most memorable birthday? For some reason I remember my 5^th birthday really well, I was still an only child at the time … good times!

17. Favorite sport to watch? Civil War game between OSU and the U of O … and that’s the only sports I’ll watch!

18. Furthest place you are sending this? it depends on who reads my blog

19. When is your birthday? January 4th

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? night

21. Favorite Color? blue

22. Pets? one dog and one cat … hey, anybody want a dog and a cat?

23. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I just got my hair cut ... I think that's exciting!

24. What did you want to be when you were little? a teacher or fashion designer

25. How are you today? meh.

26. What is your favorite candy? English toffee and jelly orange sticks

27. What is your favorite flower? Oriental poppies and Dutch irises

28. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? March 13th

29. What are you listening to right now? my daughter watching Cyberchase, and the dishwasher groaning

30. What was the last thing you ate? a generous slice of chocolate glazed citrus poppy seed cake

31. Do you wish on stars? no

32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? cornflower

33. How is the weather right now? overcast and chilly

34.The 1st person you spoke to on the phone today? my husband

35. Favorite drink? cappuccino with a hint of coconut … or a nice Pinot Noir

36. Favorite restaurants? The Olive Garden is always a favorite

37. Real hair color? espresso brown

38. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie and the Rockers Barbie

39. Summer or winter? winter
40. Hugs or kisses? hugs

41. Chocolate or Vanilla? chocolate!

42. Coffee or tea? yes please!

43. When was the last time you cried? two days ago

44. What is under your bed? summer clothes

45. What did you do last night? web design and baked a cake

46. What are you afraid of? spiders, enclosed spaces and heights

47. Salty or sweet? both ... together

48. How many keys on your key ring? five

49. How many years at your current job? nearly six years as a mom and 13 as a graphic designer

50. Favorite day of the week? Saturday, because I get to sleep in!

51. How many towns have you lived in? five

52. Do you make friends easily? no, I wish I did. Will you be my friend? I'm a fun girl!

Technical Difficulties

2010-02-28T18:18:00.000-08:00

I am having some issues with Blogger right now as it won't allow me to upload photos or certain posts that I have saved up. Shortly, I will be migrating my blog to a different address because Blogger will not allow me to post via FTP and keep my "vermilionmedia" address. I will post the new address when I am ready to move my blog.

Sheesh! What a pain.

The Boy Who Needs No Nap

2010-02-22T16:25:00.000-08:00

This boy needs no nap, thank you very much. He is almost three years old after all, and doesn't get sleepy. He would rather play with his Daddy's pink toy Cadillac. Except ...

... Mommy found him sleeping on his floor today. He was out like a light amidst all of his toys. But shot up at the click of the camera and was playing again in an instant.

Nope, this boy needs no nap.

My Heart Goes THUD

2010-02-20T18:01:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I take a photo of my child that makes my heart go THUD in my chest cavity. My daughter's long, dark lashes and blue-gray eyes only confirm that she is never allowed to grow up or date. Ever!

A Lofty Find

2010-02-18T15:37:00.000-08:00

Thrift store shopping is a hit-or-miss adventure. When shopping in consignment shops, second hand stores or Goodwill, I have a very discerning eye. My careful choosing has rewarded me with an azure blue %100 cashmere cardigan for $18, a wool/angora blend J. Crew sweater for $3.99, and an Ann Taylor skirt for $6.99. Not bad if I do say so myself!

This last weekend I had a blast doing some thrift store shopping with my mom and sisters. And it proved to be quite fruitful ...

Allow me to present my Ann Taylor LOFT boots. A great find at $7.50, they are in amazing condition and I feel very lucky that they fit my big flippers.

There are only minor scuffs, mostly on the toe. All of my other leather shoes/boots have scuffs on the toe so I'm not worried about a little bit of wear.

The low heal and tapered toe make these boots stylish, but so that I can still chase after my kids in them. And surprisingly, they fit very well around my ridiculously skinny calves where most boots are too big.

These soft leather beauties are proof there one woman's trash is another woman's treasure!

What Is This Color Called "Green"?

2010-02-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the word green is closely related to the Old English verb growan which means "to grow"? It is one of my favorite colors, one that I haven't seen much of until very recently.

This last weekend I had an amazing opportunity to head in to the Willamette Valley for some much needed time with my mom and sisters. It was a reunion of sorts and a wonderful time celebrating my mom's birthday.

One of the things I noticed when pulling into town was that in mid-February, crocuses and daffodils were already starting to poke up through the earth. The grass was indescribably green and everything was covered in moss. Living in the high desert of Southern Oregon, I see a lot of brown, golden tones, and the vibrant blue of the sky; so I happily took in the colors of an early Spring and went a little camera happy.

My mom's yard provided a lot of nature to study. The tree in the front yard had several varieties of moss and lichens. The very prolific ivy dazzled me with its green and red veins, and sweet buds were forming on trees and bushes everywhere.

I felt the sting of sadness during my drive home as my surroundings changed from the lush forests of ferns and fir trees, to sparse collections of pines. I will just have to wait until May for our Spring to come, but it will be lovely. So lovely to see the color green once more.

Mmm ... Oh Yeah!

2010-02-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

Peanut butter is probably the most commonly used food in our house. My son begs for a peanut butter sandwich everyday for lunch and my husband likes an after-work snack of a spoonful PB & CC (peanut butter with some chocolate chips). I'm probably the only one who doesn't care for it that much ... except when combined with chocolate! Here is a delicious recipe that will have peanut butter fanatics jumping for joy:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Passion Bars (modified from the Ghirardelli recipe in Home Cooking: The Costco Way)

1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 pouch Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix

peanut butter filling
1 1/4 cups (14 oz. can) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup extra chunky peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13-by-9 inch pan.

In a medium bowl, stir together oil and eggs. Add brownie mix and stir until moistened. Press half of the brownie mixture into the pan, reserving the remainder for topping.

To make the filling, stir sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter in a medium bowl until smooth. Spread evenly over the brownie layer in the pan.

Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of the reserved brownie mixture over the peanut butter layer.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is set. Cool thoroughly before cutting. Makes 24 bars.

Darn tootin' irresistible!

Shhh ... It's A Secret (Sort Of)

2010-02-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

I highly doubt that my new brother-in-law reads my blog so I think it is safe to reveal the hat I knit for him in this post. And I suppose it would be okay if he did see it because he commissioned me to make him a hat ... but I'd like a little element of surprise when I give it to him.

I am so honored that he asked me to hand knit him something. He requested a stocking cap with ear flaps to keep his ears warm as he rides his bike in chilly temperatures, and he told me he loves the color blue. This is a time when I love being on Ravelry because there are so many patterns (often free) and great tips from other knitters to pick through. I chose a hat that had ear flaps and a simple fair isle zig zag stripe. My conclusion: not bad for being my first hat!

Raveled here

Pattern: Leef's Ear Flap Hat by Leef Bloomenstiel

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in 517 (blue), 514 (light blue) and 389 (heather gray)

Time Elapsed: roughly a week.

Modifications/Notes: I followed the pattern exactly except I cast on 96 stitches and used a size US 8 needle to make a bigger hat. I also went around the edge and ear flaps with a crochet stitch to finish it off and reinforce the flaps. I found fair isle to be quite fun to do and not nearly as difficult as I expected. I am a little concerned as to how it will fit my brother-in-law, so my fingers are crossed. I hope to have a photo or two of him wearing it that I may post at a later date.

My daughter has already put in an order for a hat for her. But hers will undoubtedly be pink in color as she said the blue and gray "just isn't my style". Now that's a girl who knows what she likes!

Hello, Gorgeous!

2010-02-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

Today I was treated to these beautiful blooms. It's the third time this orchid has blessed me with its sunny flowers. It gives me a sense of hope.

Take Two

2010-02-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

Well, it would seem that we need to have another shot at making yogurt. I just know I did something wrong - perhaps the temperature wasn't right or I added something at the wrong time because our fabulous homemade Greek yogurt was just a bowl of thickened milk this morning. It smelled faintly of yogurt but wasn't nearly fermented enough and it didn't have the thick and creamy consistency I dream about.

We will try it again. And, if you think about it, that bowl of thickened milk allows for more quality time in the kitchen with my little ones. So, all is not lost.

Happy To Help

2010-02-03T15:27:00.000-08:00

After a conversation I had with my good friend Lindsay last week about various recipes and her amazing find, Fage yogurt, I was inspired to make my own Greek yogurt. I had actually been wanting to try it since I read about it in French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Giuliano and thought this was as good a time as ever. Crazy I know, but the process didn't seem difficult - just time consuming. What is great about homemade yogurt is that it is a lot cheaper to make than to buy, and I was able to have my son help.

Boy did that make his day!

In fact, as soon as I asked him if he would like to help me he grabbed his stool and positioned it so he could see over the counter. He found great joy in pouring the milk into the pot (he even convinced me to pour some milk into his sippy cup!) It isn't finished doing its thing (whatever that is) but it will be a fun treat to try out our yogurt tomorrow morning, and hopefully it will convince me that it is worth the effort. Of course, his happy giggles and enthusiasm made it rather worth it already.

Sunshine

2010-02-02T16:38:00.000-08:00

Today as I look outside at the melting snow, I dream of warm sunshine.

Little Monsters

2010-02-01T16:15:00.001-08:00

When I was a little girl I was afraid of monsters.

Now as a grown woman I find them to be good company.

The Leftover Solution

2010-01-31T18:00:00.000-08:00

Recently, I came across some old Barbie clothes that my husband's Grandma Florence had knit decades ago. My mother-in-law gave them to me to keep for my daughter and I had forgotten all about them as they were stashed away in a drawer.

Suddenly, I realized what I could do with all of the leftover yarn I have! I have odds and ends of yarns in varying weights and colors and have often wondered what to do with it all. So why not use it to whip up a little Barbie shift dress or tank top in between projects? My daughter will definitely appreciate it and who knows, maybe it will be passed down to my grandchildren some day.

While I probably wouldn't choose to wear handknit pink capris, I would absolutely don the ski sweater with its charming buttons or the golden tank dress. Who would have thought that in the 1970s Grandma was so fashion forward?

Getting Out

2010-01-28T14:23:00.000-08:00

It's officially day three of the Pink Eye saga. Though I am sure that my daughter is no longer contagious, the way her eyes looked this morning told us that it would be best to keep her from school one more day. The poor thing cried because she longed to go back to school. But hey, at least we can give her real hugs now!

Not wanting to be cooped up in the house any longer, we headed for the public library where we ...

... browsed the selection...

... and enjoyed story time.

We also colored and put together puzzles (even I had a great time putting the pink crayola markers to use). Plus I got a kick out of this:

In the movie You've Got Mail the "Shoe" books are mentioned, and I was excited to find Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild on audio book for my daughter!

Winding to Unwind

2010-01-27T12:44:00.000-08:00

It's been an ... interesting few days with all the snow, a Fibromyalgic flare-up, my husband's birthday and battling my daughter's Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye). The days have been full of decontaminating all surfaces with Clorox wipes, preparing homemade chicken noodle soup, doctor visits, celebratory dinners and a bad case of insomnia. Through it all I am so grateful for brief opportunities to clack away with my knitting needles!

Sadly, I announce that our LYS (local yarn store) will be closing in March. Gleefully, I announce that I bought three high-end knitting needles and six skeins of yarn all for 50% off at their liquidation sale. So, I have been busy knitting my first hat, a simple fair isle hat with ear flaps, for my brother-in-law. Learning something new and taking a moment for myself has helped me through this somewhat trying week. Who would have guessed that winding yarn would be the perfect way to unwind my nerves?!

Outside My Morning Window

2010-01-24T11:51:00.001-08:00

I like these cold, gray winter days. Days like these let you savor a bad mood. ~Bill Watterson

O, wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.
~Bill Morgan, Jr.

The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination. ~Ward Elliot Hour

Too Far Gone

2010-01-21T17:07:00.000-08:00

I was in the grocery store the other day and saw this on the rack as I was paying for my food:

This is seriously shocking! I don't necessarily want to give any more attention to this girl, but this upset me greatly. I think we all have things that we don't like about ourselves or secretly dream of improving, but taking it to the extreme and then being celebrated for it is repulsive.

My daughter is only five years old and therefore she still looks up to fictional animated characters, but I fear for the future when she starts looking to vapid Hollywood as role models. Especially since she is a natural performer and loves to feel glamorous at her young age.

This Heidi Montag person, who as far as I am concerned isn't famous for anything of value, actually said in an interview that through her ten cosmetic procedures she had discovered that beauty and confidence really does come from within ... but that she is so glad that she had all the surgery. This is just a reminder that I need to teach my children to be confident in who they are. That they are beautiful children of God. And that they are immeasurably valuable to me.

There Were No Clear Winners

2010-01-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

I watched the Golden Globes on Sunday night. I don't watch necessarily to see who will win best director and best drama because rarely do I actually see the movies that are nominated, but I LOVE fashion! I am eager to see what lovely things the ladies are wearing on the red carpet (and yes dream about what I would wear in their situation).

I can sadly say that I wouldn't want to wear most of the dresses this year. What a disappointment to say the least. To me it looks like all of the designers thought it would be fun to stick various ruffles, Brillo pads and wings onto the gowns. Perhaps they were confused and thought that massive amounts of frills and glitter were in. I say ick!

Let's start with the beautiful Kate Hudson. I hate everything about this ensemble except for the bracelet: The clunky shoes are hideous; the dress - though a great color for her skin - is too structured, like she is wearing a calla lily and tissue is falling out of her bust; and I don't like the tassel earrings.

Drew Barrymore's hair looks nice and her makeup is stunning ... but the sea urchins sticking out off her hip and shoulder are quite unfortunate. This dress would have been so beautiful without those things. They actually sort of remind me of vintage flocked Christmas tree decorations. So sad.

Poor Tina Fey. She didn't win for her role as Liz Lemon in 30 Rock (although she really should have) and she REALLY didn't win best dressed this year at the Globes! I actually gasped when I saw her shoes with the over-sized bows and the busyness of her dress coupled with the tea party skirt was just so wrong. I know you are a funny woman, Tina, but this look gets no laughs from me.

Noooooo! Oh, Nicole ... this is ... this just ... you know in the movie Cinderella when the mice make a dress out of thrown out sashes and beads? Well, it looks like they made one for Ms. Kidman as well. Let's just stick a bunch of random bows all over the place and call it Haute Couture! Sigh. Well, the color is pretty at least.

There are so many looks I disliked that I can't show them all. And I won't show Mariah Carey because I would have to do some serious editing on the "golden globes" she had hanging out of her dress, if you know what I mean! But there were some looks that were alright.

I'm not really a fan of Penelope Cruz but I am a fan of this dress. She's confident, her hair is lovely and she isn't over-styled.

Of course I adore the red. This dress on Cameron Diaz is simple, shows off her height and is nicely symmetrical (which defies this year's trend). The only thing I that I don't like the dark and chunky shoes which I will forgive her for as she didn't offend me with her ensemble.

Though frilly and asymmetrical, I still found this dress quite inspiring. The ruffles are less pronounced and close fitting while the color is a girly shade of pink. The jewelry is just right and she looks radiant. Her hairstyle isn't as elegant as I would prefer, but since it was raining that night I will cut Emily Blunt some slack.

I realize that these gowns cost thousands of dollars each. Many of them are considered to be high art. I respect the amount of planning and design that went into each dress, and I appreciate the colors for the season (black, red, pearly pink and white). However ... most of them were just too weird for me and I truly hope that the Oscars don't disappoint.

Kiddie Couture

2010-01-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

It started out as a project for me - I had this overwhelming desire to make myself a simple little top. Then my daughter begged me to do a project with her so I decided to make a simple little top for her as well. I had in my mind that we would have coordinating fabrics that would go well together. Perhaps we would have a little photo shoot showing off our matching outfits. Then my daughter enthusiastically chose her fabric.

You can't get any more "Under the Sea" than this.

It had bubbles and sherbet colored sea animals. Her exclamations of "This is perfect" and "It will be gorgeous" deterred me from insisting on something a little less ... colorful. And really, it is totally her style: bright, cheerful and bubbly.

So, while I chose something more understated and elegant, I happily stitched away at her summery top. And judging by her prancing around in it with her mermaid doll in hand, I would say that she is quite pleased with her choice!