So I never blog and am planning to shut down the blog, but wanted to talk about a few things I have going on until my new one is up.

This semester, I'm going to be teaching an apprenticeship in connection with Citizen Schools.

My former classmate, Regine and I are going to be teaching middle schoolers once a week about fashion design!

ha!

It's a pretty cool after school program so if you have an extra hour and half a week you should look into doing it. They have connections with schools all over the country.

It should be really fun. We have them going on field trips to Mood, the Cooper Hewitt, even to the Jones New York showroom. At the end of the 10 weeks, they will be presenting their 6 piece collection, hopefully at Parsons. (I'll keep you posted on that.)

About the same time I signed up for that, I got called to be in the Young Women's organization at church.

So what does this mean? That I might start acting like a middle schooler yet again...dressing younger? Perhaps... time will tell!

Wish me luck!

Mid-summer catch-up

(This times 100 = the number of peaches that were canned)

Where does the time go? Although this summer hasn't been much of a summer weather-wise, it's still flown by nonetheless. And I've managed to fill it with fun times, great people, and of course awesome food. Well here are a few photos to hold you over (in no particular order because I'm sick and don't feel like messing with blogger.)

This was the day of Roxy's graduation in May. I was so happy to be able to spend the day celebrating her! (and we got to dress up AND eat at Alice's Tea Cup).

I also got to attend Emily and Dave's wedding. It was a super dreamy event.Me and Wendy at the wedding.

Spending time with family! It was so great having the girl's come with Lexi and Tariq. The city was amazing to them and it was great to see it through their eyes.

Celebrating Regine's birthday at Dinosaur Barbeque!

More family time with Lexi and her friend Sandra.

My garden...still growing out of control!

Making strawberry jam from the strawberries that we picked...Too good.

Celebrating Loide's birthday in DC! Sooo much fun.

Spending time with Keysia, Danette, and Gloria in DC the same weekend. This is also the weekend Gloria decides to fill us in on her news of being pregnant with twins! I guess she decided she couldn't hide it anymore...:)

4th of July BBQ at Sonya's. It was perfect.

Celebrating my dear husband's birthday!

Well, those are all the photos I had, but it doesn't include: riding my bike around Brooklyn, working at the CSA and figuring out how to cook Kohlrabi and other strange veggies we get from our farmer, peach picking and then canning the peaches.
Oh wait, just found the peach pictures, so I'll post them below. It was ridiculously hot, but so satisfying and worth it. (I think.)

Question

Have you ever been invited to a wedding (of a former co-worker that you remain friendly with) but your spouse wasn't invited?

Do you:
(a) just go without your spouse and feel awkward the whole time but just hang out with the other male co-worker who is going?
(b) talk to your friend and ask if you can bring your husband?
(c) RSVP for 2 and then force your spouse to attend with you and make him feel awkward all night?
(d) decline invitation and just send a gift?

On one hand, we are in a recession and Dereck doesn't know my co-worker. But on the other hand, this isn't just some random guy I'm dating. We are married, isn't it customary to at least invite the spouse. Plus I feel like now there isn't going to be much incentive to have any couples outings in the future...

Kind of weird, huh? What would you do?

My poor little blog is suffering as of late.
I’m going to blame it one the rain.

I mean, seriously was NY transported to Seattle unknowingly? On one hand, I’m grateful because my garden is thriving! On the other hand, not seeing the sunlight has really messed with me. I NEVER want to get up in the morning. It’s not good. Plus, I feel cheated out of a large portion of my summer. Summer in New York is truly magical. And it’s been raining everyday, so that sucks the life out of you and makes it impossible to attend concerts, movies in the park, etc. Plus, when it rains on the weekends that is just lame.

On another unrelated note, I’m so fascinated with how people are reacting to the passing of Michael Jackson. I admit I was shocked when I heard it yesterday at work. It seems that everyone around the world knew him and has a memory associated with his music. Whether it was making up dances to his songs as a kid, attending one of his concerts, break-dancing to his songs on old cardboard boxes, watching him moonwalk across a stage, remembering “We are the World,” or just being fascinated and/or horrified with his life being played out on TV in front of the entire world. He truly was the king of pop.

Unfortunately, we also can’t forget about: “blanket”, the face masks, the accusations, the surgeries, the marriages, Neverland, the Martin Bashir documentary…I could go on and on. But, despite how his life ended up, my heart goes out to his family and I know that he’s in a better place, free from the pain he experienced on this earth.

The cool thing is that people seem to be really remembering the good that he brought to our lives through his musical talents. I’ve been listening to “All Michael, All the Time” today from an online radio station today work and it’s been great. I may even stop by union square on my way home to check out one of the many vigils happening around the city.

...HEEE – HOOO…..(sung in a high pitched tone)

Some words

My sister (in-law) sends me these daily "Words for the Day" that she gets from a friend of hers. (Unfortunately I can't quote the source, sorry.) However, here are two recent "words" to help you through this rainy, dreary week.

Possibility of success

You can make your life a triumph in spite of every adversity. Or you could make your life a mess in spite of every advantage.

Success does not depend on where you start. If it did, no one would have ever been successful. Success comes from what you choose to do with whatever you have. It is fully available to anyone who decides to make the effort and the commitment.

Whatever the day holds, it also holds the possibility of success and achievement. Whatever the situation may be, there is a way to create real value from it.

Choose to see the positive possibilities, and you will. Choose to follow those possibilities, and success takes root.

The opportunity for success is always yours, and so is the responsibility. Decide to do what it takes, and create the success that is your own special destiny.

Rich and Powerful

The strongest power has no need to show itself or to prove itself. It is quiet, calm, determined and unshakable.

Boastfulness is the surest sign of weakness and insecurity. True confidence has no need to speak of itself.

Authentic richness is endlessly generous. Anyone who has the need to appear rich suffers from a terribly painful poverty of the spirit.

How do you fill your life with richness and power? Honestly be yourself, and give freely of yourself.

Give up the fantasy of gaining benefit over others, for even if you could get it you would receive no real value from it. Instead, make it your business to promote, encourage, raise up, love and appreciate others at every opportunity.

Pretending to be rich and powerful is agonizing work that incessantly erodes your spirit. Being truly rich and powerful fulfills your deepest longings and brings you fully to life.

Have a great day!!

I might be obsessed

I think if my voice were tolerable, I might have pursued a singing career...ok, probably not, I should just be grateful that my friends like me for who I am and they aren't offended by me singing off key...I guess I'll never be the karaoke superstar that I am in my dreams.

Completely feeling the groove.

The entire Karaoke gang. How classic that Clark and Atticus were such good sports. By the end we had to fight them for the mics! They were pros.

At one point both Atticus and Clark started crying...was our singing that bad?

Just jammin to a little Kanye or was it Eminem?

Oh, the laughs we had! Amberli come back so we can sing, just one more hour.

My hot mama and sister

How cute is this?

My Uncle Warren sent this to my mom who sent it to me.

Had to share.

When Kijuana comes to town...everything's more fun....

Kijuana and I had the best time when she came over Memorial weekend. We laughed and laughed and had a great time. Wanna come back, sis?

Hanging in Little Italy after getting our shop on.

Eating delicious Chinese food at a super sketchy restaurant in Chinatown.

Cheers!

Saying good bye!

Please don't go!

The re-creation

Kijuana and I's version of: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

KARAOKE!!

No, seriously probably one of my top ten nights of all time. Why is karaoke always hilarious?

Michelle and Kijuana

My solo debut...

Sara and Kijuana
Food, friends, fun, and karoke!

I know Michelle and Kijuana are going to kill me for posting these, but at least I will have died laughing....so funny....

Remember me?

Apparently I'm a once-a-month blogger, but oh well.

Life has been busy and interesting and good.

Here is the top 5 things that's happened in the past month:

5. I've been maintining my 3-day a week workout schedule.
4.We had one week of summer-like weather.
3. I'm starting an organic garden with my friend Sarah...(it's going to be in her backyard since I don't have one - she lives about 6 blocks away)...get ready for lots of veggie posts.
2. I'm spending a lot of time and mental energy on my new project and am getting sooo excited!
1. Dereck started his new job 2 weeks ago as the Loss Prevention Manager for the Brooklyn Region!

Hope all is well with you!

In Honor of Earth Day

An Article from EcoTextile News

MANCHESTER – [07.04.09] The trend in recent years towards disposable ‘fast
fashion’ is rapidly impacting on natural resources in ways that would shock many
consumers, according to new research from a leading UK-based textile testing
laboratory.The latest research from Shirley Technologies (STL), suggests that
while consumers may believe low-price apparel such as T-shirts and jeans offer a
genuine bargain, in reality, the environmental cost could be up to four times
the price of higher-quality clothing.
“A pair of ‘bargain‘ jeans may come
with a low price tag, but they come with a high environmental impact price,”
said Asif Shah of UKAS accredited Shirley Technologies. “Our research
illustrates that somebody may keep and wear a good or high quality pair of
jeans, for instance, for four times as long as they might keep low-price
jeans.
“People purposely buy ‘fast fashion‘ to wear a few times and throw
away, but in doing so they are going through raw materials four times as fast,
using four times as much water and four times as much chemicals.”
STL also
found that the increasing trend for recycling was not resonating particularly
well in the clothing sector with only 12% of textiles recycled in the UK.

Hopefully KGrace Designs will be your answer to fast fashion....stay tuned!

Harvey Faircloth

So, I'm a little late in blogging about this, but better late than never, eh?

Two lovely ladies that I know (and their very talented friend) have created this wonderful new clothing line called Harvey Faircloth.

I know you will find them as beautiful as I do! Please see all these links below...

Here

Here

Here

and

Here.

Talk about talent. They were also featured in WWD, which is like the coolest for all things retail/fashion related. I'm so impressed and excited for them!! And here they are in their line.

Aren't they great!?!

Soon to be available in: Milkmade in Venice, Calif.; Elsa Arms in Providence, R.I., and Cabana in Dallas.

The Husband.

Talk about handsome.

This is my man and his father. They were probably causing all kinds of accidents looking this good! haha

I just thought this picture was so cute because they're posing so similarly without even knowing it.

So it turns out, I'm not such a good blogger after all. I'm kind of bored of it. Does anyone else feel the same? I'm sorta considering ending this blog and starting a new one, but don't worry, I'll keep you posted.
Otherwise life has been busy, but good. My darling Cathy came to visit. We of course, had an awesome time!
We went out on the town on Saturday night...tons of fun!
The best part about this picture is that she was genuinely so excited about her hot chocolate and then I ended up drinking it...go figure?

Happy Easter!

I hope that everyone had a lovely day.

Colorado

Colorado was so much fun. This picture basically sums up what we did all day...
Read here and here if you want to read about it. All I can really say is that Kelly and Dave were the best hosts ever - wasn't I supposed to come to help THEM?!

Here are a few additional pictures. I miss you guys already!
Fun seeing the twins and Chad!We circled New York before landing, I was a bit bored - so here's Long Island for you.