yellow

Week #8

 

 

 

 

People close to my heart are facing some of the toughest challenges of their lives right now.  I cannot even begin to imagine what they are going through.  I have kept my distance, believing (hoping) that things will get better.  Well, things have not gotten better, and may have taken a different course.

You have always been in my thoughts these past months.  There is not a day that passes that I do not think of you...

I can only wish that -

...your days/years be filled with sunshine.

...you find hope amidst the chaos.
 
...you have the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference. (Reinhold Niebuhr)  

Hang in there.  This, too, shall pass.


Luv,
Lease, HH, and the kids

More on Project 52.

http://www.beinglease.com/

arsenal

You do what you need to do in order to get through whatever it is you need to get through.

This is what I tell people who come to me for advice (all 2 of them).  You need your own secret stash of things/rituals to help you put (and keep) your game face on (literally sometimes).

My not-so secret stash.  Things that have helped me through the dead of winter, allowed me to keep my sanity, and kept my head above water these past few weeks of 2010.

1.  Kiehls Mint Lip Balm and Deep Pore Cleansing Face Masque.  Something about the cleansing ritual that helps me wash away negative vibes.  The deep pore cleansing mask also entertains my 2-year old.  I guarantee that kids will leave you alone the entire time you have the mask on.  That's a guaranteed 15 minutes of quiet time.  You might just be able to hear yourself think.  Promise.  I also love the mint lip balm! So relaxing, it's addictive. 

2.  Clean and Clear facial cleansers and scrubs.  These are the best ones I've found, and the drugstore prices help me maintain my Kiehl's purchases (and Starbucks addiction).  Trust me, I've tried the Cliniques and the Lancomes (not to drink), and these have worked best for me.

3.  Opi and Sally Hansen nail color.  Nothing like a good manicure/pedicure after a tiring week!  Okay, I admit to being partial to the neutral colors, but there's nothing like a good sheer light pink or dark purple to spice it up a bit.  I love the colors in the Colecion de Espana (Opi).  Sephora carries a few shades created exclusively for them by Opi.

4.  ELF Mineral Lipsticks.  I find myself choosing these over the more expensive department store brands.  In fact, I think I am on my third reorder of these items - Rustic Brown and Prime Plum (great neutral shades for everyday wear).  These are mineral based, cost a fraction of other brands ($5 vs. $20), and work as good as the expensive lines. 

5. philosophy fragrance.  Uplifting and feminine is how I describe these.  Unconditional love is my current favorite, and my constant is Amazing Grace.  I also love the little life statements on each philosophy product.  Food for the soul. 

6. Frederic Fekkai Glossing Hair products. Okay, so you know that I have mood hair.  Mood hair = high maintenance.  This is the perfect set for color-treated fried hair.  Makes me, er, my hair feeling nice and young. If you know what I mean.

Battered souls need pampering, and pampering is easy to do with the right tools.  You need to stop and nourish your body and soul for the next round.  Burnout is inevitable, unless you stop to take care of yourself.

Because you are worth it.  Because you deserve it.  Because people depend on you to be more than okay.

Luv,
Lease

p.s. in case you are wondering, Lease did not receive valuable consideration in exchange for her opinions regarding any of the above products.  She used her leftover fun money and a good portion of her kids' college funds to cover her purchases. She is, after all, a woman of substance (or other).  


http://www.beinglease.com/

through the eyes of a child

Our first born recently re-discovered Legos.

When she scored above her grade level for her SRI (reading comprehension), I gave in and treated her to a whopping $20 shopping spree at Target to buy Legos.  She was so excited to have her first female Lego character, and said that she chose it because it reminded her of me. 

I am touched.  Flattered, mind you.

 

I do need to say that, for the record, I am a brunette with highlights (not a redhead; Arguably, a golden brunette with lowlights?).  It would all depend on the time of day, and my mood for that month.  Yes, I have mood hair.  There are things that I have to hide with hair color.  

  

I also feel the need to address the outfit.  I do not own a kimono-style sweater. 

OK, let me rephrase that - I do own a pink cashmere kimono sweater, but have not had the opportunity to wear it out of the house since I bought it maybe 4 years ago.  Okay, 5 years ago.  Because it was an impulse buy.  And, I promise to wear it as soon as I shed the final xx lbs that I need to shed.  Promise. 

F, did you need a pink kimono-style sweater?  Anyone?

  

The female does realistically depict the wavy hair that I have been trying to tame for the last 28 years (to no avail).  I look at my kids and am happy that they are not in the same predicament.  They inherited the nice thick mane of the male Lego character who appears beside the female throughout this post.

 

Which brings me to this male character, who my daughter sees as the replica of her father, none other than the Hunky Hunk of Burning Love (a.k.a HH).

 
Notice the muscle shirt, and that smirk.  Those capture him perfectly.  Except that he does not really wear muscle shirts, but he does have that smirk.

Something about those quiet brooding types...

Luv,
Lease




http://www.beinglease.com/

neighborhood reds

Week #7

 

  

  

  

  

Technical:

Canon Rebel Xsi

50 mm 1.8

f/stop 1.8

ISO 400

~~~

I did not need to go far for these pictures.  

 

A nearby park.  After the rain.

  

 The swing, slide and monkey bars were slippery.  

So, the kids stayed in the car while I ran off to shoot these. 

  

 The park was empty.

No one in sight.

  

 Perfect for an uninterrupted photography session.

Captive subjects (literally bolted to the ground).

  

I liked how these turned out.  

Not a lot of post processing.  

I would like to acknowledge the Hunky Hunk of Burning Love's support and technical abilities.  I shared a vision for this project, and he found the perfect location to capture it. 

You will see more of what I mean with the next photography projects! 


Thanks, HH!

I like you.

Very much.

--- Lease

-More on Project 52!
- Next week - Colors of Napa Valley!

making our beds

The thing about a semi- Do-it-yourself backyard project is just that...there are parts of the project that you have to complete on your own.  With your own blood sweat and tears.

We did not lose any blood, but there definitely were a few tears, and a lot of sweat involved in building our retaining walls and flower beds.

Let's run through the basic ingredients:



1 medium sized wheelbarrow (from neighbor)
1000 pcs. 9 x 10 x 3 concrete pavers (each one weighs about 3 lbs)
1/2 cubic yard of gravel
10 liters of Tazo awake tea
1 16 oz bottle of Starbucks classic syrup
Advil (optional, but highly recommended)
H20 - tap will do.

Process:
Lay out 1 -2 inches of gravel along the desired outline for the flower beds.
Tap down to ensure proper drainage.  Easier said than done. 
OCD tendencies and these kinds of instructions do not go well together.

Carefully lay out the pavers side by side.
Adjust and tap down until everything is level.
"Level" is a word that is subject to interpretation. 
A husband's definition of the term may be different from the wife's.
Even though you have been married for more than 10 years.

Tie a string across two posts.  This is an easy way to check if your lines are straight.
Straight is another contentious term.

Add or adjust the amount of gravel to ensure the pavers are level with the previous and the next one.

Lay another row of pavers over the first layer.
Make sure to offset each paver. 
This helps make the wall a lot sturdier, and has a nice visual impact to it.


Repeat the process for the third layer.

You know what?  After 2 layers you will realize that it's OK that it's not super level or straight.
I only lost sleep about this for about 3 days, and paced the living room floor for about 2.
Life goes on.  Furthermore, the pain convinces you to let go. So, you let go.

  

Now sit back, check your work, and take a sip of that sweetened iced tea.
You deserve it.

Till the next phase - setting up the rock garden!!!

Luv,
Lease