Me? Over The Top

Super brave American, Frau on a West Family Adventure in Germany was kind enough to bestow this Over The Top award on my blog. At first I thought it was Over The Hill (hmm sensitive much?) but now I know it’s a nicey nice blog award with a fun ONE word challenge. I look it as a fast and furious psyche test. Here I go:

1. Where is your cell phone? Bed

2. Your hair? Difficult

3. Your mother? Ha

4. Your father? Heaven

5. Your favorite food? Rich

6. Your dream last night? Lost

7.Your favorite drink? Diet Coke

8. Your dream/goal? Joy

9. What room are you in? Bedroom

10. Your hobby? Photography

11. Your fear? Mediocrity

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Bestseller

13. Where were you last night? Movies

14. Something that you aren't? Calm

15. Muffins? Banana-Nut

16. Wish list item? Cartier

17. Where did you grow up? NYC

18. Last thing you did? Read

19. What are you wearing? Jeans

20. Your TV? Old

21. Your pet? Wild

22. Friends? Blessing

23. Your life? Turbulent

24. Your mood? Uneasy

25. Missing someone? Sometimes

26. Vehicle? Truck-light

27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes

28. Your favorite store? Anthro

29. Your favorite color? Green

30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday

31. Last time you cried? Recently

32. Your best friend? Cherished

33. One place that I go to over and over? Church

34. One person who emails me regularly? BFF

35. Favorite place to eat? Johnny’s

Now I have to pass the award along to six Over The Top Blogs that I really like. Too bad it’s only six. I like so many of you. Like Frau said, if you'd like to play along too, feel free to join in. If not, NO pressure. Cut and paste these questions to your post. Please let me know if you play along. Today's picks are:

Ina in Alaska http://ina-offret.blogspot.com/
Amanda McCabe http://amandamccabe.blogspot.com/
Deidra at Jumping Tandem http://www.jumpingtandem.com/
Tam Styles at Get It Girl Style http://getitgirlstyle.blogspot.com/
Kate at Babbling about Books http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/
The Broke Socialite http://thebrokesocialite.com/



Best,
Kwana

It's Raining Pinecones!

What's Jack up to? Jack is such a crack up. Just when he takes me to the edge he does something sweet like wait patiently by his water bowl just looking at me until I get my first cup of coffee. That dog knows I'm a bear until I get my coffee.

So we had quite a wind storm yesterday and you'd have thought it was raining pinecones by the look of my yard. I'm feeling like I should be doing something with all these pinecones like a craft or something. At the very least I should be putting them in bags and selling them on the side of the road. Unscented thank you very much.

This post doesn't make much sense but I like the pics. I hope you do too.

Have a good Friday!

Best,

Kwana

In A Blink

Thanks so much for all your well wishes yesterday on my anniversary. You all made the DH and I feel so good.

I have to say it was a lot to live up to this 20th anniversary thing. The day before, heck, weeks before, I had so much anxiety and I think some was due to the upcoming anniversary. How could I be having such a big milestone in my relatively short life?


I did just have my 40th birthday back in June that was enough thanks. I felt with this big milestone of the 20th anniversary and having a 40th birthday and having kids in high school shouldn’t I have all this grown up like crap together? Shouldn’t I be more together and know what I’m doing by now? Shouldn’t my career be in place? Shouldn't I have this parent thing down? Shouldn’t I at least not have so many freaking bad hair days?!!!


Well, I guess not. Because the milestone came anyway. I woke up next to the DH and said, “well, this is what 20 years looks like.” He smiled, laughed at me and said, “and you said we wouldn’t make it.” The day began.

20 years is not perfect, but it’s not all drama or even a romantic comedy. Nothing is. It’s life full of moments that go by in the blink of an eye.

Best,
Kwana

photo thanks to flickr- Blink of an Eye

20

Happy 20th Anniversary today to my so dear DH.

As I’m sitting here typing this my heart is beating extra fast and there’s that little flutter in my stomach and the words, well, at least not any witty or coherent words, they just won’t come easily, but the emotion is there so strong as the tears prick at my eyes. This is real life, real emotions, real love. Our love. No made up characters here.

I’m grateful for good times and hard times, the laughter (so much of it) and even the pain. The 20 years of what ifs and most of all of the people we have grown into (parents of twins-yikes!) and are still growing into together.

This is still a journey and I can’t believe it’s been 20 years so fast. You’ve been married to me for now half my life- a really good half let me tell you.

Now let’s say we go for another 20 to see if we can finally get this thing right. The fun is just beginning!

Kwana and DH in Mexico a very long time ago

Love always and forever,
K

P.S. To all my friends and visitors. Thanks for sharing the love with us today.

If I Had a Million Dollars

Tackle it Tuesday? Ha I wish.

Today I find myself thinking if I had a million dollars (well, 2 or 3. A million just ain’t what it used to be) I’d hire that cleaning fairy and hunky Top Chef to make my life just a smidge (read: whole boatload) more manageable. Life is very different now than from when this still life was done by Pop Artist Tom Wesselmann in 1963.

It’s another postcard I have from a visit to the MoMa. I think I was drawn to the color and calming simplicity of this kitchen. I’m sure the Rice Krispies and the Dole Pineapples helped pull me in too.

What practical thing would you purchase if you had a million or two?

Tom Wesselmann 1963, Still Life #30

Off to tackle some edits today.

Best,

Kwana

Me Time

What's Jack up to? Jack's chilling after a fine weekend and being Just Jack. After a pretty dreary Saturday the sun came out on Sunday and Jack out in nice long walk with his buddy Bentley then just chilled and chilled some more. Oh the life.

I had an odd weekend. Not odd really, but odd for me. Got to steal a little time for myself which is so very necessary to my sanity every once in a while.

I found myself alone (well not quite, there were 2 other in need of peace moms there) in the movies. I was doing a little mom therapy and seeing Whip It which I just loved and highly recommend. A total girl power movie with tons of coolness and a rocking soundtrack. It also has the added bonus of being sweet as pie.

Then I ended up on the West Side going to celebrate a friends B-day. Man there are lots of much younger peeps out having loads of fun at all hours. I'd almost forgotten that world. But still I adore NYC at night. It's so in my blood, so home.

How was your weekend? Did you get in any U time?

Best,

Kwana

Last Picked

Happy Friday! Well you made it another week. Good for me and you, eh? How did this week do ya? How did this month do ya for that matter?

It’s flown by on a breeze and I’m left wondering where it went and left looking at its back. Now here it is October and Fall is here for real- real.

The garden thing is officially done. Here you see the end of our labors.

The last picked. Aren’t these last pick tomatoes and peppers just beautiful? Sometimes those that are picked last can be the most special. The ones with the most promise. There’s no shame in being the last picked.

“…so the last shall be the first…”

Best,
Kwana

Passion makes Perfect

A friend of mine (thanks PIC) recently reminded me of my love of TED so I stopped on by ted.com and watched this video with the amazing novelist Isabel Allende talking about passion.
We women can make all the difference.
Enjoy.




Oh, Happy October!

Best,
Kwana

Tis the season

The first raking of the fall and it's only the beginning. We'll soon be covered.

Gee I forgot about this when economizing with the gardener. Sigh. Oh well, it will be good exercise.

Best,

Kwana

Oh Jack!

What’s Jack up to? Jack has been such a trip lately. Sending us all on wild Jack chases.



Running out of our yard to a neighbor’s yard on the street behind us just when we think he's being good and proper. Not.

Then it was the other day when I was ready to give him a bath and he decided to send me running in a circle after him. Well, I put a stop to that once I got in enough exercise to get winded. Pla-eaze. Jack ended up hiding under the bed for an hour and me, well, I do have patience sometimes. I did finally get my man, um, dog as you can see here.


Now here he is nice and fluffy and on his leash but still not too happy with me. Check out the evil eye. Humph! I'm not moved...much.



Best,
Kwana

Anna and Grace a Love Story

Hello Monday! How was the weekend everyone? It’s sort of still going on with it being a holiday today and the family is home.

This weekend I did get in a bit of fun going to see The September Issue with my good buddy PVE. Now Patricia was the perfect person to see this with since we’ve been friends for X number of years when we were both still working in fashion BC (before children).

I thoroughly enjoyed The September Issue or Anna and Grace A Love Story as I'm calling it.

The whole story arc that pitted Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington (Vogue's creative director) against each other, but still united in their love of fashion and Vogue was wonderful. I was sucked in by the fact that both women started at Vogue on the same day over 20 years ago. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in those days.

It does make me wonder if people will one day think of me and my friend PVE once we're both big names. Her a famous artist and me a bestselling author (wink,wink-Universe).

Will they wonder how we were back all those years when we were still cubicle girls in the fashion biz? Still wide eyed dreamers tottering on our heels and looking for recognition. I wonder.
I do know we'll still be dreamers.

Once a dreamer, always a dreamer.





Best,
Kwana

Just Dance

So the opposite of all the blood, drama and Eskimos? of the MTV VMA awards...

On this Friday let's Just Dance with P.S. 22's class to Lady Gaga's Just Dance.
Thanks for the video, Wendy!





Have a wonderful weekend.

Best,
Kwana

Fashion on the Brain

I've got fashion on the brain. It's that lovely in between time in New York right now when you just don't know what you'll get weather wise at any given moment so you need to be ready for anything.

I'd love some easy pants, comfy driving shoes in a few great colors, a fab trench coat and of course a to die for bag (you all know me). This lovely lady was taken from The Satorialist and she totally fits my bill.



Friend and author Melissa Walker was featured on NPR talking about her picks for fashion books. You can listen here:


You can read the full article and read more about the books here.




Melissa is the author of Violet On The Runway YA series.

Best,
Kwana

Just Chillin'

What's Jack up to? Just Chillin'. I mean really, who wouldn't want this dog's life? It's the opposite of my multi-tasking post the other day. Jack is so not into multi-tasking. Let's all take note.

Have a great Wednesday and take a Jack moment today!

Best,
Kwana