The Bright Spot of My Day

Today was one of those days.  Well it was Monday.  So it started off bad by default.


It was dreary.  I didn't get enough sleep.  It was Monday.  


Oh yeah.  I said that already.


By the end of the day, I was ready to go home.  But no.  There was still grocery shopping, a department store, and a drugstore to get to.


I canceled dinner plans.


I was in no mood.


I was the walking dead.   


Finally, home sweet home.  I was uber eager to say 'Goodbye day! Hello bed!'


I did the ritual of stopping by my mailbox before parking in front of my pad.  


Junk mail.  


Bills.  


Pre-approved credit notifications.


 . . . wait a minute.


What's this unusual brown flat square thingy?  Is it a dvd?  A cd?   . . . 


No!


IT'S SO MUCH BETTER!


It's a surprise package from the one and only "supremely skilled southpaw" Kristilyn , owner, creator and master genius of Zombie Romance!!!


Suddenly I'm ripping the package apart and hear myself gasp in utterly awed appreciation of the contents:

(WARNING:  NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH)

This would be an adorable Doodle Diva inspired Zombie Diva as only uber talented Kristilyn can imagine and create.  


Isn't it disturbing?


Isn't it twisted?


Isn't it just the cutest thing you ever did see?!!


I love this girl's creations.  And mark my words:  I predict Kristilyn's Zombie Romance is going to be a very, Very, VERY big deal sooner than later.

A little note from my fellow Southpaw

Too adorable.  Check out those eyelashes and the adorableness of these little fawns. Meanwhile, their fearless leader is wearing a skeleton.  I love the way the stark contrast just coincide like business as usual.

Meanwhile, her surprise got me my second wind.  Suddenly, Monday doesn't seem bad at all.  I have a Zombie Romance original inspired by Doodle Divas.


WHAT?!


And it tickles me to know that while my girls are positioning themselves to take over the world one walk-in closet at a time, Zombie Romance's gals are taking over the world as well . . . 


 . . . one brain at a time!   :-)



                 












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Mother's Day

I never reply "WHAT?" when someone beckons my attention.
That's rude.
I reply, "Yes?"

That was one of a multitude of things my mom taught me.

I love you.  Thank you.  While all absolutely fine, it just doesn't pack the same personal punch as the specifics.

• "Thanks for teaching me to keep a little bowl by the tub.  I can use it to rinse the tub after I bathe to prevent tub rings."

• "Thanks for teaching me to rinse the dish cloths in fresh water so they won't get gross and sour overnight."
• "Thanks for teaching me the best ice cream is Breyer's, the best candy bar is Snickers, and the best music is Motown."

• "Thanks for teaching me to root for underdogs, see the beauty in small things, and always say 'thank you'."

I rattled off a multitude of things Mom taught me.  I could tell she absolutely appreciated it. In an age where experts, talk show hosts and even Time magazine love to point out what parents did and are doing wrong, it's music to a parent's ear to hear all the glorious things they did right.

Happy Mother's Day.

Doodle Divas

Sitting Like a Lady

I've always associated class, sophistication and diva-ness with crossed legs.  


Turns out that just like everything else that appears completely innocuous, researchers have found crossing your legs is actually hazardous to your health.


Here are their findings on the health hazards associated with crossing your legs:

• Slower blood flow
• Extra burden on the heart
• Varicose veins
• Change to posture

What advice can I give those ladies that read this information but still insist on crossing their legs?  

Turns out that like everything else that appears completely hazardous, I have found crossing your legs is actually nowhere near as hazardous as smoking.

In fact, Here are my findings on handling health hazards associated with crossing your legs:

• Tell those researchers to kiss your ass

 

The Best Part of Waking Up Is COFFEE in My Cup!!!

It doesn't matter how much I dread the day.  It doesn't matter what colossal event I will be engaged in awaits me.  It doesn't matter if it's rainy, sunny, snowy,  dark outside or light outside. . . 


 . . . starting off with coffee first thing in the morning is consistent.  It's a bright spot in my day no matter what.


Here's how it has to go down for perfection:


-three heaping tablespoons of medium/strong name brand coffee, (sorry store brand, I can absolutely taste the difference)


- two cups of water (minimum two cups of coffee required)


-brewed till all brewing has stopped, (no heavy drips and no sitting around on a hot plate)


-my favorite coffee cup, (it's heavy and chipped and speckled and super old . . . LOVE!)


-powdered creamer poured, (NEVER measured)


-three tablespoons of REAL sugar, (the order is important - creamer first followed by sugar)


-40 second nuke in the microwave to get to my preferred temp (my old coffee maker doesn't get it hot like it used to)


Voila!  My perfect coffee is made.  My day has a chance of equaling the same perfection.


What's your perfect coffee??  


(This lovely caffeinated princess is available at my CafePress!)

Random Divas

So while I was at the Grove Arcade today, I took a break from dancing to Madonna songs to revisit an idea I had for a diva.  It's very random, very quick and unplanned . . .

 . . . very doodle.

Actually, I have a series of Doodle Divas with martini glasses.

 It's very old school sophistication.  Those old black and white movies seemed to equate martinis and cigarettes with class and sophistication.

Of course, today, we know better.   Well, I certainly do.

This series of illustrations is an homage to 'way back in the day.'  And in this particular case, an old school diva's dry martini is all dried up.  I'm thinking Bette Davis:

"Waiter!  One more.  And don't be stingy with the olives!"

Doodle Divas

Easter

I had a blast at the Grove Arcade today offering my Doodle Divas for the big Easter crowd.  Speaking of Easter, here's Easter Diva 2012:

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She's a hit!  Last year it was all about the diva with an outfit that went with the season in the same pose.


This year - not so much.


I knew I wanted bunny ears.  But I didn't want her to look like a Playboy bunny.  So I started with traditional Easter colors, chose a background color that happens to be one of the most popular colors for Spring/Summer 2012, and just let my mind guide my drawing hand with ideas.


See.  Nothing deep.  I just wanted something super cute and different.


The end.


Hope everyone had a good Easter!  :-)

Josephine Baker

I'm not  a fan of planes.  I don't like the take off.  I don't like the turbulence.  I don't like being at the mercy of some random pilot I barely hear over some screaming child over the p.a.


Did he just say  . . . 


"You can get up when you see the light."


Or was it . . . 


"I give up. You can kiss your ass goodbye??"


BIG difference.


I had my headphones and put some finishing touches on a diva.  It helped to keep my mind off of . . . how does something this big actually stay in the air?


Inspiration?


I had a random and fleeting thought of Josephine Baker.  Her story is actually incredibly sensational and quite scandalous - even by today's standards.


And she was a lady of color - biracial actually.  Rumor is her father was White.  Her grandparents were former slaves.   


And Josephine's childhood was no picnic.  Holy moly!  She lived on the streets, ALONE,  before she was a teenager. 


She danced for food and money and was discovered by a vaudeville act.  Eventually, she went to France, and got super famous.  America - not so much.


So she stayed in France, lived  in  a huge castle, adopted 12 kids, and had a huge show in 1975 in America that drew the likes of Mick Jagger and Jackie Onassis.  It was sold out.  Four days later she was found dead of a cerebral hemorrhage lying peacefully in her bed  surrounded by rave reviews of her performance.


Wow!  


Talk about going out with a bang!  


I saw a snippet of her show on Youtube.  At age 68, Joesphine had it going on!  Skin tight outfit.  Sequins for days.  Elaborate getup.


Scandalous.  Sensational.  Talented.


In other words . . . 


. . . Josephine Baker was 100% diva.


How could I resist!