Seaside City Life...a little bit of this, a little bit of that.
As a follower of Teresa Sheeley's blog and a window-shopper of her etsy store, I just HAD to share these awesome truck towels with you. I adore these graphics and someday I want to buy myself a big old (and I do mean old) delivery or pick-up to tool around in. 
Casey, my 15 year old daughter, had an idea to make "Brownie Cookies". So, she did a little research and came up with these delicious, cakey-fudgy-dense but not too dense delights. She served them with fresh whipped cream and, Lord, they were good. I'll have to ask her for the recipe...
and the living is easy. Or the living SHOULD be easy! I wouldn't mind being dropped into any of these scenes. The blue picket fence has definitely piqued my interest, it seems like such a fun, carefree touch to a garden!
We're just about finished with our construction project which added 3 bedrooms and 2 baths to our Craftman's Bungalow. I thought it was all over but the crying, till my brother in law asked when we were going to re-do our kitchen!? So now I've been thinking...no money left for a proper overhaul, but these pictures seem like manageable goals. They're in my fave color schemes, white green and blue, and how can I go wrong with that? Plus there are some GREAT bowls, etc. right now at Anthropologie that will complete this look. So, we'll see what a few gallons of paint, a good sale and some creative re-arranging can do. 
I've been working on a children's book. It is written, is has two lovely, encouraging rejection letters proudly attached to it, and I've lost my mojo. This is not an illustration from it, just some therapeutic work I threw together to look for that elusive mojo. Patience and consistency, two things I need to work on. Have a great Saturday!
My incredible husband called me from his cell yesterday to tell me....drumroll please...that there was a COMPLETE SET of the metal furniture I collect curbside on a dead end street in a new development a few blocks from our house. He was on a bike ride when he spied this treasure. Needless to say I hauled ass over, took the chairs and table right away then went back today (praying it would still be there) for the glider. I. Am. So. Happy. And grateful for my man!!! Hope your day held happiness for you!!!
While driving to work yesterday in Elberon, we spotted this deer just walking by the roadside. It's funny to see them just a block from the beach. 
Okay, here's a preview of Barney Saltzberg's new book, which will be out in Fall. Can't wait to lift the flaps and pull the tabs with my toddler groups!!!
Of course I'm in the mood for a picnic today...it's been raining since 5am! I'll have to wait till Thursday anyway, to enjoy my day off and maybe pack a picnic for the beach.
This is where I've been spending my days off from the library. I've been bartending at "Promenade Beach Club" here in Long Branch, NJ. Not a bad way to make a buck! Some people who belong there I've known for more than 20 years, it's interesting to see them and find out what's going on in their lives. A couple came in last weekend and recognized me from working at another beach club, in Sea Bright, and were amazed that I remembered their children's names more than 10 years after I'd last seen them.
Each year our Summer Reading Club has a theme...this year it is "Get Creative at Your Library". We have a little karaoke stage set up, a play kitchen, dress up chest and of course a tea party table. Here I am with one of my favorite library patrons, Zoey. She is an absolute sunbeam of a child and I've been lucky enough to know her for her entire life. 
with a few "Babes" thrown in for good measure. Have a happy, fun and safe 4th of July. I'll be bartending away all weekend but I'll be able to see the fireworks from the bar, so it's a win-win deal.
...call me boring but I find these palettes so soothing and lovely. Maybe someday I'll step out of the white, cream and blue box.
I love a mystery book. Just finished "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley and really enjoyed it...it's narrated by an 11 year old girl in post was London and it was just a fun, witty read.
This was SUPPOSED to be me this week. I took an entire week off from work and planned on lounging at the beach, book in hand, the entire time. Who knew it would rain EVERY SINGLE DAY??? I am enjoying the book "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" currently but it would be even better with some sand in it! 
Robert Rahway Zakanitch is my good friend Deb's cousin. His work is so incredibly varied...he's illustrated two children's books, created the theater curtain pictured above, has had various gallery/museum shows...just amazing! His textile paintings are so beautiful, I'm really enamored of his work. 
Check out "writersrelief.com" if you write, want to write, have aspirations to write...
