NEW YEAR, NEW DREAMS

I have been encouraged to put together a "vision board" this year. I've never done one before, but I think it will help me focus my thoughts. As a "creative" type, my mind is always going with new ideas but sometimes they never happen. :( That makes me sad. I'm assured that if I put thoughts on 'the board' it will help me make them happen.

I have been cutting away getting ideas on the board. I'm really, really excited to make it happen!

I've been horrible at blogging lately. I think that needs to go on my board--blog more often or something like that....

*duchess*

LOVE THIS!

Saw this on the "Pickles" website:

http://www.pickles.no/cute-gift-bags/

I want to do this first thing this year!! I just picked up some fabric/old sweaters from the thrift shop. I think I'll use those first. :)

*duchess*

FIRST GIFT

Here's a message from a fellow blogger at Whatever:

yes....i am talking about water again.
today is the day where bloggers everywhere are joining together in a campaign to
buy water for christmas.

4500 mothers bury their children EVERY DAY due to contaminated water.
the lack of access to clean water is the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations.
and it doesn't have to be.

as we get ready to rush through department stores and browse through catalogs searching
for the perfect presents....lets pause for a moment.
let's PAUSE.
today...November 13...lets buy clean water.
clean life saving water.
$10 will provide one person in africa clean water for 10 years.
your money can change and possibly save someone's life.
a real life.

$10
that is 2 starbucks coffees
it's on CD on itunes
it's a pizza
one movie ticket
less than one container of detergent!
$10 can change someone's life.

click the link below to be directed to the secure donation site of the highly recognized, non-profit
charity: water.
click on the yellow donate button.
All donations are tax deductible.
100% of the profit goes directly to clean water solutions in west africa.

http://http//www.charitywater.org/pages/water4christmas/

share this on your blog.
link it...copy it...tell everyone."

water4christmas

I follow a terrific blog every day. One that makes me smile and feel happy whenever I read it. The blogger loves rainbow colors and I can't help but smile everytime I see one of her 'rainbow' photos. I'm not sure she even realizes her photos run in rainbow colors. I have a friend just like her actually. Everything in my friend's house is organized following the rainbow color wheel. My son does this too! I think these are happy people! :) All of her photos are amazing.

Meg, the author of the blog 'Whatever', and a few of her friends spent a whole childless weekend making crafts for this special non-profit: Water4Christmas. I thought it was spectacular! If I lived anywhere near them, I would have definitely joined in the fun. I love volunteering for great causes.

Here's the link to Whatever. Read a bit and buy a few items from the Etsy store they put together specifically for the water cause.

*duchess*

REEL REVIEW: VALENTINO

"I make dresses for women who actually wear them." –Valentino

If you haven't already seen "Valentino: The Last Emperor" documentary, you need to! I loved it. What a great peek into the life and design process of this incredible fashion icon. I wish it would have been longer than the 1-1/2 hours.

The show follows Valentino and his long time partner Giancarlo through the final year of the Valentino spring collection, Paris runway show, celebration of his 45 year career as a fashion designer (a 3 day celebration), and the finale runway show collection in Rome. In addition to all this fabulousness (is that a word?), the peek into his personal life is irresistible.

As for the Haute Collections, the real magic happens in the backroom where the devoted seamstresses work tirelessly to help Valentino complete his designs. Not one sewing machine in the whole place!! Everything is done by hand. Unbelievable. The method is simple: The head seamstress is handed a sketch by Valentino himself, he gives her a brief review of what he wants, she then returns to the workroom where they make the design come to life. At one point in the film you see 6 ladies working on one dress finishing the details just before Valentino's review. Truly shows you must be born into Haute Couture to know and respect this method. You slowly realize perhaps this complete design method and hand sewn art will die without the likes of Valentino.

His personal life is truly "LaDolce Vita." Private jets, Royalty, super models, famous film stars, 6 villas, 200 house staff, and one fabulous house manager who makes everything work seamlessly treating Valentino like royalty (one could argue he is). All this giving Valentino time to design and sketch his like-no-other creations. His homes are perfect, impeccable, sculptured, and indescribably gorgeous. His perfection is carried throughout EVERY aspect of his life. His impeccable business suits. Everything he touches. He and Giancarlo have spent their 45 years together 365/24/7 as described by them. A beautiful relationship you get to see firsthand. Inspiring!

A definite MUST SEE. One of my favorite films!

*duchess*

GIFT

This gorgeous flower kept me company while I was on the terrace in Montreal. The owner of the B&B grew them in various places on property and then placed them at the breakfast table for his guests to enjoy.

p.s. I was testing the photo option import program. I love the size and clarity of this photo!

CALIFORNIA AGAIN...

It has been a whirlwind month. I've been stressing because my blog hasn't had much attention this month--even though I'm always thinking, "oh, I need to blog about that..." Just didn't happen.

We spent the last week in San Jose and the Trampoline and Tumbling Junior Olympic Nationals Competition. This is also the only time this summer the 4 of us will be all together. Camps and what not will fill the rest of our summer. (School starts early August here in Texas.)

So how did my gymnast do you ask? Well, he came home with 2 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal (by 3 tenths). But I can't tell anyone because he doesn't want me to brag. Here's the champion:

The other big news is that a day after we got home, Kooza celebrated his 13th birthday (photo above). Yep! All this good stuff happening in one week. Bliss.

CALIFORNIA BOUND

I’ll be traveling to the Long Beach, CA area this summer. I’m going with a friend (or should I say invited myself/tagging along) to celebrate her sister’s birthday. I love California any time of year because the weather is typically awesome, especially in comparison to the 90 degrees we’re getting here in Texas this week---and it’s not even summer! Ughhh.

Anyway, I would love to hear any ideas you might have of things to do and places to see while we’re out there. I’m particularly interested in farmers markets, one of a kind events (I heard about the balloon and wine festival in Temecula), flea markets, great beach shops….you know, ‘local flavor’ type shops and ideas. Any junk gypsies out there?

I’ll be without hubby and boys, so anything is possible. I won’t have to listen to the ‘this is boring’ comments from the teenagers….you know what I mean?!

Last time I went away with a friend I lost my passport and was stranded in Mexico. Pray for me that doesn’t happen this time!!

*duchess*

DREAMING OF SPAIN

I’ve committed to volunteering at the boys school today. We sell Otis Spunkmeyer cookies at lunch time for the Athletic Association. I’ll be at the school, smelling chocolate, and *DREAMING* of Spain….

These are photos of Antoni Gaudi's fabulous architecture in Barcelona. Truly amazing!

Have an awesome day!

*Duchess*

ELLEN PRIZE

One day, as I was eating lunch, blogging and reading blogs, the Ellen DeGeneres show was on TV. (So that makes 4 things I was doing at one time. Crazy.) I like watching her shows during my ‘lunch hour’ here at home and I especially love watching during her 12 Days of Christmas giveaway—always wishing I had tickets to those!! Watching the show these days is luxury because it only happens when I’m not working. Well, I must have thought “Day 5” was really fabulous because I decided to sign up for her website internet giveaway. I’m happy to say today---I WON!!

I won the Tourneau watch they were giving away that day! I was shocked when I got the call…“This is ___ from the Ellen DeGeneres Show.” What? Did you say Ellen DeGenerous? (Get it?) Yippeeee. I love winning things! What fun. Yay Me!

All of us deserve to win a prize every now and then. Don’t you think? They say it’s the little things that make us happy. I happen to agree.

p.s. About 3 years ago, on a whim, I registered for tickets to her show knowing we were making a trip to San Diego. I figured it would fall in my category of ‘things I’ve never done before.’ Well, I got lucky then too and actually got a seat in the studio (on the aisle to watch Ellen dance by)—long story I’ll have to tell later. I'm sharing this story because I wanted to let you know Ellen is really a beautiful woman. Her blue eyes are stunning. TV doesn’t do her justice….