I was telling jokes and poking fun in my post earlier today.  After watching the news for the last few hours, I’m no longer in the mood for jokes.  With the devastation from the earthquake in Haiti, and their people in dire need of assistance, my heart is in another place.

I have a beautiful 17 year old stepdaughter.  She is not just beautiful on the outside.  More importantly, her beauty comes from within.  For the last two summers, rather than spending her days at the beach or the mall, she chose to travel to the developing nations of Dominican Republic and Haiti with a non-profit organization called Building Homes, Building Hope.   This volunteer organization works to rebuild communities in these impoverished nations. 

Here are some images from her travels.  These people live in a state of poverty we cannot comprehend. 

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Judging from yesterday’s comments, there are faux fur haters and there are faux fur lovers, and not much in between.  If the former is you, please come back tomorrow because you will simply detest my latest creation.

I happen to fall into the latter category – I am a lover of faux fur, just as long as it is used in very small doses and in a chic and casual way.

These days, it’s not just faux fur on my mind, but texture.  Soft texture.  Interesting and different texture.  Like this little pillow I created out of the most surprising source.

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I’m a huge fan of adding interest to a space with varied textures.  The use of faux fur accessories is one way to bring elegance and softness, especially during these cold winter months.  Faux fur adds a whole lot of cozy, and a little bit of Old Hollywood glamour.  I adore it, in small doses, and when used in a casual stylish way.

I just want to snuggle up and get cozy with these images.  Each room has just the right touch of faux fur, with a single rug, pillow or throw.  They make me feel warmer just looking at them.

Decorpad

Pottery Barn

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I’m a sincere lover of Mexican food – I crave it at least twice a month.  When I was in college, I would indulge at the local taquería in muy grande burritos and never gain a single ounce.  These days, if I so much as look at a burrito sideways, I gain five pounds.

Two years ago, Mr. CG and I were dining at our favorite local Mexican food restaurant.  He ordered the chicken tortilla soup.  I tried it for the first time, and fell in love.  All the flavor of a delicious taco, in a bowl, but healthier and lower in calories ?  Sign me up, señor.  Since the restaurant was reluctant to share their recipe, I spent over a year trying to capture the same flavor by tweaking my own recipe for sopa de tortilla de pollo.

On a cold winter day, there’s nothing I want more than a hot bowl of soup  And a nap.  But the latter is not happening.  Here’s my recipe for ‘taco in a bowl’.  It’s yummy yummy to your tummy.  Muy bueno.  Enjoy.

Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup

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Kids have a way of springing things on you – it just comes with motherhood territory.  Friday, my daughter announced to me that she was expected at the social event of the season.  Okay, it was just another invitation to yet another kid’s birthday party, but it happened to be taking place that very afternoon.  Need gift, need it wrapped, pronto !

In the past, whenever these kinds of social events had arisen, I always found myself scrambling for wrapping paper and ribbon.  It drove me crazy.  I had no place to store wrap in my office and I didn’t want to store it under the bed.  Then I thought, hey, I’ll use the space behind my laundry room door.  Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.  Genius, I tell ya.

I searched around online for a quality organizer, and even considered buying one like this, but most of the consumer reviews said it was junk.  Then I had a light bulb moment.  Light bulb said, “Gurl, what the heck are you thinkin’ ?  Git yer beehind on down to Lowe’s and build yerself yer own, dagnabbit !”  So I did, lickety split.

This project took about two hours total from start to finish over the course of two days, but now I have this great little wrapping paper organizer and I’ve maximized storage in a place I wasn’t using before- behind the laundry room door !   Yeee haw !

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