step into the crisp, cold, sweet rooms

I must apologize for my absence, it's been an extraordinarily busy couple of 

weeks! The start of the week has been filled with visits to the flower wholesaler.

It's lovely to step into the crisp, cold, sweet rooms picking out fluffy roses, peonies

that look like party dresses, and fragrant freesia. It's been a week of popping into

little local cafes for a bite to eat and refreshing iced tea. And afterward...a perfect

welcome home by my darling husband and sweet little prancing Dachshunds as I

set the keys down and walk into a sunny entry way. And later...a glass of champagne,

feathers, rhinestones, and a great movie.  

"The tightrope my music teeters upon is the struggle between tradition & progress, history & fantasy. I am the songbird & the worm." ~ G. Page

I've been having days filled with daydreams and inspiring 

conversations with good friends, moments of clarity and sweet

melodies. Constantly working to make dreams come true so that

day dreams and become day realities. Currently reading and 

listening to stories of successful people, being inspired by the

joys of synchronicity and the bliss of finding yourself in the exact

place you always pictured yourself in. Do you ever want so much

for yourself that it's almost bittersweet? Do you ever lie in the sun 

and find yourself full of hope, so full of hope in fact that you know

there is no other option but to make your dreams come true? 

I'm so joyous to be living the life I am living and I want nothing

but to create more happiness, to connect with music in this way,

to connect with people in this way, to connect with myself in 

this way, to connect to my marriage in this way....

for the rest of my life. 

{I had a fabulous birthday!}

What a fabulous birthday! My special day held beautifully

wrapped packages filled with wonderful surprises, much 

needed rain pouring from the sky, strawberry short cake,

flutes of champagne, cassoulet shipped from a special source,

a joyful dinner party with my giant family, a new dacshund 

puppy,  and sweet messages sent from fans, peers, friends, and

family. 

Thank you everyone for making me feel so special! Cheers!

xo, Jolie

Why does a charge disrupt the varying mystic?

{All of the vivid colors! }

Sadly the weather is becoming increasingly hotter. Spring is fading as 

mild nights turn into warm and balmy dusk. Admittedly summer is not my

favorite season. It lacks the charm of spring, the enchantment of winter, the

 bittersweet chill of autumn. However this blog does not serve for complaints

but rather for romanticism. As I've done before, I aim to romanticize summer,

to figure out summer's qualities that entice me. What do I have to look forward

to? 

Blissful moments laying on a boat being rocked gently by the waves of the

lake. Avocados, tomatoes, cilantro muddled in a molcajete to make fresh

guacamole. Trips to the farmer's market, basket in hand, filled with colorful

summer vegetables. Chilled watermelon, dripping with juices, eaten out on

the front porch at sunset. Cotton dresses kept cool in the freezer. Cockatils

made with fresh fruit and herbs from the garden. Stone fruit plump with sugar

inside of a flaky pie crust. Days on floats in the pool, hands splashing water

now and then to cool off. Stacks of books ready for summer reading 

lackadaisically in a hammock. Floating down the river with an ice cold

Lone Star Beer. The voices of Buena Vista social club floating 

quietly through the room. And let's not forget all of the vivid colors!  

Images found {here} Post inspired by { Arianna Belle}

For more Summer fun visit: Summer Fun Part One

{My Homekeeping Past Time}

It's been a bit of an organization week around here. I've taken

the week void of burlesque meetings as an opportunity to get my

home ready for late spring, early summer life. One of my favorite

things in life is having a beautiful home and tending to it. Life 

has been so utterly busy lately with shows, classes to teach, 

meetings, travel, and so on that my home has fallen through the

cracks. I've also picked up more writing opportunities which

happily coincides very well with my homekeeping past time.

After all, a closet perfectly organized is marvelously satisfying.

Part of my love for home keeping comes partly from my love

of aesthetics and partly from my adoration of organization. 

A petite breakdown:

Aesthetically Pleasing Desk

-  The vintage milk glass lamp

- The cream box filled with inspirational tokens;

glitter, stationary, silver bows, and labels.

- The golden monogram paper weight

- The antique tall china cup used to corral pens 

- Gold and peach candles slowly burning

An organized desk

- Mail and documents corraled

- Paper neatly stacked in a tweed box

- Slots for:

1. stationary

2. post-its

3. Checkbooks, envelopes, paperclips

4. Daily Cleaning To Do List posted to easy viewing

5. Periwinkle boxes filled with rhinestones, glue, past

show fliers, important business cards. 

What are your favorite ways to organize your desk?  

A Showgirl's Checklist for Daily Cleaning

{The first day of spring is one thing}

       

"The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another.  The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. " - Henry Van Dyke

Lately Spring has been rather indecisive, reluctant to find 

a temperature and stick to it. But that's been my joy this 

spring, to layer clothing, almost like one does in the fall,

only with different textures and fabrics. I'm loving the 

Spring 2011 collection from Tibi; the girlish dresses with

updated hemlines, the boxy yet playful shoulders, the soft

ruffles giving a sense of airiness. Each ensemble could easily

be layered with a light silk scarf, a delicate cotton sweater,

and an oversized canvas bag equipped with  pair of flats for

the more casual spring cookout.