Art makes the world go round

Art tells us a story about our culture, our history, our politics, our religion, our loves, losses, darkness and light. And the artist who creates leaves behind a piece of his or her soul.

This is why I love art.

Yesterday, we spent an afternoon at the Cleveland Museum of Art. With a collection of more than 43,000 works from around the world, the Museum features substantial holdings of Asian and Egyptian art as well as significant works by Caravaggio, El Greco, van Gogh, Monet, Warhol, Picasso, Pollock and more.

And in keeping with the original vision of its founders, the Museum is always free ("For the benefit of all people, forever").  

I love taking the kids to see new things. To let their eyes and ears absorb beauty. I want them to grow up knowing they can create beautiful things themselves. To express from the deepest parts of the soul. To tell their own stories and share their experiences with others.


A look at the work of American painter William Henry Johnson.

2014: The year in ideas

Merry Christmas!

Illustration by Phoebe Thomas.

The whole wide universe

There is no one like you in the universe. You are unique. You are special. You matter.  


Get the most out of your life. (TEDxSF)

The flu

Hi lovelies. I've been struck down by the flu and can hardly lift my fingers to type the words you are reading now. Fever, chills, sore throat, congestion and the mother of all back aches are keeping me housebound. 

Talk to you when I'm alive and kicking!

XOXO.


Illustration by Saul Herrera for Getty Images.

Quote for Tuesday

"Being a mom has made me so tired.
And so happy."
-Tina Fey

Love match

Young, fashionable Koreans are showing off their relationships with carefully coordinated clothing. It's kinda cute and kinda corny. What do you think? Would you dare to match outfits with your significant other?

Street style couples. (Pinterest)

I love you, blogs and coffee

I saw this print in my friend's home office and instantly fell in love. As a newspaper reporter turned magazine editor turned blogger (with a serious coffee addiction passion), I gotta get my hands on one of these!


Print by Made by Girl.

Art of the marbler

Making stuff is really cool. As evidenced by this 1970 short film, which documents the art of making marbled paper. 


Speaking of making stuff, have you heard of Wool and the Gang? So cool.

The night Lennon died

John Lennon died 34 years ago today.

I found the most fascinating post about his death on one of my favorite blogs. The night Lennon died, someone made a six-minute recording of what was playing on FM radio in New York City. It's eerie, sad and like traveling back in time. 

Click here to listen. 


The front page of the NY Times the day after Lennon was shot. 

Quote for Monday

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. 
I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times 
hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, 
then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
-Marilyn Monroe

The Moped Diaries

Discovered this charming short film by Tyler Nilsen and Nick Vitale called "The Moped Diaries." It has a wonderful Wes Anderson flavor to it. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.


This one is really good, too.

Kale quinoa breakfast (yum!)

How mouth-wateringly delicious does this look? As an egg and kale and quinoa lover, this dish would be my perfect breakfast. I'm gonna make it this weekend for my family. 

Click here for the recipe. 

Happy eating! 


Photo from goop.
My chicken soup recipe, if you're looking to warm up.

#GivingTuesday gift guide

We Americans love to buy stuff. We love sales even more as evidenced by special offer shopping days like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. (I wonder what we'll make up next? Buyers Remorse Wednesday?) 

I think the best one of all is #GivingTuesday.

I don't know about you, but during the holidays I get wrapped up in my gift list. I spend a lot of time putting requests together, editing and re-editing my list, adding items for my children, for this friend and that relative, careful not to forget the teachers, the school secretaries and the mailman.

#GivingTuesday reminds me that the holidays are about spreading cheer and good will to people I will probably never get a chance to meet: the orphan in war-torn Syria, the West African doctor working on the front lines fighting Ebola, the single mom living in poverty in this country.

There are so many great causes out there:

> 1 in 3 women in America are living in or close to poverty. For the first 3,100 donations received on #GivingTuesday, World Vision and Thirty-One Gifts will match each donation with the gift of a tote filled with essential hygiene supplies including a toothbrush, soap, shampoo and a hairbrush for a US woman or girl in need.

> The Samaritan's Purse Christmas Catalog includes the gift of clean water; refugee relief in places like Syria, Iraq and Sudan; support for our veterans; and even gifts like building a school or a house!

> Every year, Doctors Without Borders provides emergency medical care to millions of people in some 70 countries around the world. Some of their on-going work include life-saving surgery in war zones, fighting against maternal mortality in Burundi and Sierra Leone, and treating children suffering from tuberculosis in Tajikistan.

> Every year 170,000 children are born with cleft lip and/or palate. This congenital deformity makes it difficult to eat, breathe, speak properly and smile. Most families cannot afford surgery. Organizations like Smile Train and Operation Smile provide free cleft repair surgeries to those in need.

> Sponsorship through Compassion International means you can help provide regular medical check-ups, educational opportunities and spiritual support for a child in need.

> Empower a family by helping to bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. Donate honeybees, a flock of chicks, rabbits or a goat through Heifer International.

> Unicef says 91% of every dollar you spend goes directly to assist children. Your donation could provide vaccines and insecticide-treated bed nets, emergency relief and School-in-a-Box kits.
  

Illustration from HelpInk.org

This week's obsession: Unker's

A few weeks ago I had the will but not quite the back.

The lawn was covered with ugly, soggy, dead leaves. In short, the backyard looked terrible. Perfect opportunity for a workout, I thought as I pulled the rake out of the garage. Two hours later our yard was triumphantly leaf-free but I could barely move my back without wincing. It hurt so much to inhale was a chore.

The good folks at Unker's rescued me. This magic goo, made with essential oils and all natural ingredients including eucalyptus, wintergreen, pine needles and menthol is like Bengay or Tiger Balm but without the potentially harmful chemicals. The husband slathered a good amount on my sore back for three nights in a row and my pain vanished.  

I love this stuff! Sometimes I'll open the jar and just take a big whiff. There's something soothing about its minty scent. (In fact, I'm doing a lot of sniffing of it as I write this.) 


More good stuff that's all-natural.