ART/Culture – a day at the MUSEUM

 THE PALM Springs ART MUSEUMmuseum1

It’s always nice to visit the art galleries and museums in any city you happen to be visiting.  I really enjoyed the Palm Springs Art Museum, established in 1938.  The displays are culturally diverse, interesting, ethereal and thought provoking.  A feast for the eyes.

In the sculpture garden
In the sculpture garden

What began as a museum about the desert has evolved into an oasis for the arts, focusing on international Modern and Contemporary painting and sculpture by artists such as Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, Duane Hanson, John Chamberlin, Anselm Keifer, and Anthony Gormley.

wood horse
wood horse

It includes works by historically significant west coast artists Sam Francis, Robert Arneson, Nathan Oliveira, Mark di Suvero, and Edward Ruscha, among others, as well as contemporary Native American artis

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Karen LaMonte – Pianist’s Dress Impression

Additional areas of focus include Contemporary and Studio Art Glass by Dale Chihuly, Karen LaMonte, Howard Ben Tré, Lynda Benglis, and William Morris; Classic Western American Art by Thomas Moran, Charles Russell, Frederic Remington, Walter Ufer, and Agnes Pelton; Native American baskets; Mesoamerican artifacts; and Photography with special attention to natural, built, social, and leisure environments.

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Yoshitoma Nara, “your dog” – fibreglass

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Warhol (brillo) & Lichtenstein
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Navajo – natural handspun wool & synthetic dyes
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Fritz Scholder – galloping indian on horse, acrylic on canvas
Paiute willow & glass beaded baskets
Paiute willow & glass beaded baskets

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Vladimira Klumpar, Sea Subject cast glass
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Ellsworth Kelly
Robb Putman - fabric, leather, plastic, cotton, mixed media
Robb Putman – fabric, leather, plastic, cotton, mixed media

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I’m really glad that they allow you to take photos – no flash.

Photos: d. king

Do you have a favourite museum?

 



health MATTERS: a walk in the PARK

What a great idea!  I think there should be more parks like this one with exercise equipment sprinkled throughout, nice water fountains and especially a Healing Garden.herb01herb11fragrant & healing GARDENherb10  (double click to enlarge) to know about all the benefits of these historical herbs. Many are readily available at your local supermarket.

 

 

When life throws you a bunch of lemons, make the most of them!

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this sign was a bit faded
Some signs are a bit faded

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Jojoba & Lavender oils are used in my new natural skincare line.  I’ll tell you about it soon.

LIVE WELL!
LIVE WELL!
I guess just the smell alone will make you feel happier
I guess the smell alone will lift your spirits to make you feel better.

 

Photos: d. king

 

Do you have a favourite herb?

 

 

The 12 signs of beauty

What’s your sign, gorgeous?  I thought it would be fun to post our beauty horoscopes for this month.astro1

Whether you are a Gemini with an active imagination, a Taurus with a love for all things beautiful or another sign entirely, we know you’ll appreciate knowing what’s in store for you this February. Find out what you can expect and get beauty tips for looking your best all month long. Teaser: If the stars align, you just might be looking at a fresh, new haircut.

Aries

This month is all about the four-letter word: L-O-V-E–and it has nothing to do with Valentine’s day. Your confidence (and amazing hair) will gain the attention of someone special so take this opportunity to play with your day-to-day style. Try a new braid or a sleek, slicked-back look, but refrain from cutting off any length.

Taurus

You are a natural beauty with a strong devotion to those closest to you. This month plan a picnic, host a day of wine-tasting or lead a group hike for friends–anything that gets you together with others and celebrates nature. Show your true beauty and go with a no-makeup look (some BB cream, a mousse blush and moist lip balm), and pull your hair away from your face. A topknot or a milkmaid braid has never looked so good.

Gemini

You’re a true work-hard-play-hard kind of girl. Your social life couldn’t be more exciting, and your colleagues are all praising your incredible work. What better way to show your winning streak than with an eye-catching mani? Reach for sunshine yellow the next time you pop into the salon for a color change–it reflects your enthusiasm, curiousness, strength and clever wit.

Cancer

You are always pulled together, and your constant radiance is undeniable–mostly because your power color mirrors that of moonlight. For you, this month is all about your career and finances so be sure to shine on the outside as bright as you do on the inside when you get that raise at work. Try a new highlighter this month to make your amazing cheekbones stand out.

Leo

You are lovable, passionate and dominant in relationships. This year, your perfect Valentine’s Day consists of a front-row seat at Fifty Shades of Grey (we’re with you on that one). This month get a look that is as intense as you are by wearing your hair up in a flirty chignon and rocking a bold red lip.

Virgo

You are no stranger to a weekly spin class and constantly watch what you eat. This month you kick it into overdrive and have never felt better. Doubling up on your chia seeds is making your nails stronger, and those extra helpings of raspberries have your hair shining like the sun. For a big night out, break out your bronzer and try a flattering contour.

Libra

You are modest and soft-spoken but you also enjoy your time in the spotlight. This is your month to shine and try something new. You have an important and exciting event coming up so why not take this opportunity to show off your new haircut or dye job? In the mood for a drastic change? Try a platinum or pastel-colored ‘do. The thought may be nerve-wracking, but the payoff is well worth it.

Scorpio

Special recognition is headed your way, and it’s shining a public light on your professional life. Aside from your incredible work ethic, the other thing others focus on are your expressive eyes. Make your peepers pop even more by trying false lashes and a smoky eye. Update your go-to smoldering look by using purple eye shadow.

Sagittarius

You are a worldly and educated traveler. Your curiosity leads you to beautiful places most people don’t take the time to discover. Whether you’re taking a trip abroad or going on a weekend getaway, plan to get some color this month. If you plan to soak up the sun, don’t forget your SPF. For a more immediate dose of color, try a new orange blush.

**Capricorn

This month is all about making over your home, seeking inspiration for a new look and diving into at-home DIY projects. Take this time to declutter your space, purge what you don’t use anymore and refine your sense of style. When it comes to your closet and makeup collection, go for quality over quantity. At the end of the month you’ll look more polished than ever. The daytime smoky eye (chocolate browns, coppers, and caramel shades) should be your new signature look.

Aquarius

This is your time, beautiful. (In case we haven’t missed it, happy birthday!) With the month of love upon us and the stars aligning, you might be in for a marriage proposal or a new business partnership. Start your new relationship with tell-all eyes and fun pops of color. This month try shadows and eyeliners in cobalt blue, fuchsia and neon shades.

Pisces

This month you’ll experience a boost in finances. Take this opportunity to invest in a new pair of great heels. Before you slip on those gorgeous new shoes, take the time to pamper yourself with a relaxing pedicure. If you get stuck at your salon’s color wall, your power colors are light turquoise, pale mint green, lavender and white.

Source: Zoe Beautiful

Style – is eternal 

FASHION FADES

Take a sneak peek into Yves Saint Laurent’s studio

Colourful Block Dress: Tribute to Piet Mondrian 
Colourful Block Dress: Tribute to Piet Mondrian

as the first YSL exhibition is to be held in the UK this summer. The Bowes Museum and the Foundation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent – which is headed up by Pierre Bergé, the designer’s partner – have collaborated to bring the retrospective, entitled Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal to Britain.

the master
the master

The exhibition will run through July 11th until October 25th and will be held at Bowes Museum which is a stunning castle near Newcastle, England.

Props from his studio and sketches will also be on display.

 

I may have to make a trip to England this coming summer.

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To this day the YSL le smoking” jacket remains my all-time favourite piece.

Do you have a favourite YSL outfit, bag, shoe, perfume, lipstick……?

Food: Real Food

Everything you see at the farmers markets is fresh, locally grown and organic. 

natural coloured cauliflower
Natural coloured cauliflower.  I like purple.

Last Saturday we visited the farmers market in Palm Springs.  It’s small compared to most I’ve seen, but what it lacks in size it makes up for with prize produce and products.  I mentioned how large the size of the grapefruit, oranges and lemons are but we came home with a bag of the tiniest Hass avocados I’ve ever seen (just as good but with  a much smaller pit), Barhi Dates,  Smoked Gouda, baby heirloom tomatoes,  Oatmeal honey bread (no preservatives of course) Avocado oil with lime (Mexican dinner coming up),  a delicious Avocado body lotion with jasmine and a fruit I’ve never heard of before.

I'm going to try this
waiting to ripen

It’s just so nice walking around in the open air on a nice day and looking okay, sampling all the good stuff. Everything is slightly more expensive than shopping the local grocery store, but considering the quality and work involved it is quite worth it, not to mention healthier.  Maybe I won’t buy every single item there but for a whole lot of things it makes shopping & cooking a much more pleasurable experience. AND you are helping to support the farmers.farmers3

And while on the subject of avocados (see link from last week): https://girlwhowouldbeking.com/2015/01/24/health-matters-ingesting-healthy-fat-like-avocados …here is another Avocado recipe from a cozy New York neighborhood joint called NAVY located on a tree-lined street in Soho. It’s one of their signature dishes.

Avocado Toast for Two

photo: Garance Doré . Taken from: http://www.garancedore.fr/
photo: Garance Doré . Taken from her blog: http://www.garancedore.fr/

Ingredients:

• 1-2 avocados, depending on size
• 1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
• 2 thick slices of sour dough bread
• 8 slices of watermelon radish
• 1 scallion, sliced thin
• 2 sprigs of fresh parsley or chervil
• 2 tsp. pickled mustard seed
• 1 small pinch of chili powder
• 1 pinch of flakey sea salt
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
Recipe:
1. In a bowl, mash avocado.
2. Add lemon juice and a pinch of kosher salt.
3. Toast bread and layer with avocado mash, followed by radish, scallion, herbs, and mustard seed.
4. Finish with a sprinkling of chili, sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil.

Mustard Seed

Ingredients:
• 1 cup mustard seeds
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 1 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tbl salt

Recipe:
1. In a small pot, add mustard seeds and cold water to cover. Bring to boil and immediately drain and repeat three times. On the final time, drain seeds and transfer into a jar.
2. Warm the water, vinegar, sugar and salt. Once it comes to a simmer and the sugar has dissolved, pour into jar with mustard seeds and allow to pickle for at least 3 hours before using.

Bon appétit!

 

 

 

 

Art/Fashion – Reyle Love

Fashion and Art have always been inextricably intertwined.  dior4Think Yves Saint Laurent’s 1965 Mondrian Dress or the designs Elsa Schiaparelli conjured in the 1930’s from sketches and photos by Salvador Dali.

Looking back to Berlin-based Anselme Reyle’s limited edition collaboration for Christian Dior’s most fabulous accessories.dior5Known for his large scale abstract paintings and found object sculptures, Reyle delved deep into the label’s DNA, pinpointing such iconic pieces as the Lady Dior bag and infusing them with boldly toned twists or camouflage prints and just a splash of top-stitching on an ankle-strap wedge.dior5 (2)

Reyle shot to fame in late 2007, when his stripe paintings sold for six figure sums, even as works by Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst remained unsold. Earlier that year, the artist’s profile received a boost when a purple foil-in-Plexiglas box sold for $192,000 at auction in London.dior3

Reyle, whose works are characterized by bold brushwork, neon paint, 80s kitsch and silver foil,  has also showcased his work at the ARKEN Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen, the Gagosian in New York, Tate Modern in London and also showcased his abstract work in Mumbai.

Art, Fashion – bring it on!

Health MATTERS – thinking about the BOX

We went to Ernest Coffee in Palm Springs for coffee and an almond croissant and then got thirsty for some water.Ernest1  But they had no bottles – because all its water came in boxes. First time for everything.

I try to do my part as much as possible for the environment as only one little person can.  Which means carrying reusable bags and often lugging around a reusable water bottle but admit to buying bottled when it is most convenient – like travelling.

The company calls itself Boxed Water Is Better and describes itself as part water company, part art project, part philanthropy. That is more than a little affected, but the simple, chic design and the creative approach to selling water will probably pique some interest.

It started with the simple idea of creating a new bottled water brand that is kinder to the environment and gives back a bit—they found that it shouldn’t be bottled at all, but instead, boxed. So they looked to the past for inspiration in the century old beverage container and decided to keep things simple, sustainable, and beautiful.

Their argument for why boxed is better?

  • 76 percent of the box is made from a renewable resource—trees—making it one of the most sustainable beverage packages available.
  • Those trees come from certified, well-managed forests.
  • The boxes are shipped flat, which is significantly more efficient than shipping empty plastic or glass bottles.
  • The boxes are recyclable—where facilities exist.
  • The company plans on donating 10 percent of its profit to organizations working to improve access to clean water, and promote reforestation.

Are you aware:

About 30 to 40 billion plastic water bottles are discarded each year, of which 90 percent end up in landfills rather than recycling bins.

Let’s not even consider all the fossil fuels wasted in producing the bottles and trucking them around the world.

But bottled water remains a huge convenience. Let’s be honest: We can all try to do our part to help the planet but convenience is still key.

Ernest Coffee - 1101 North Palm Canyon Drive
Ernest Coffee – 1101 North Palm Canyon Drive

Photos: d. king

 

 

 

 

Feel-good Friday: Fruitful

Grapefruits the size of footballs, Oranges the size of Watermelons and Lemons the size of Grapefruit…

the bowl is a fairly large
this is a fairly large size bowl

picked or fallen from the trees right outside our front entrance.

Not until I cut the orange in half did I realize it was not a grapefruit.  Have you ever tried eating a huge orange, grapefruit style?  It works if the orange is really juicy – a pleasant discovery.  What a treat.

What’s your favorite citrus fruit?

Photo: d. king

beauty– eye Draw the Line

With Stila, Kat Von D, Nars, Marc Jacobs and More

Eye just can't make up my eyes mind
Eye just can’t make up my eyes mind…they’re all pretty nice.

So happy to have discovered this curated collection of cult classics at where else….Sephora.  Surprise, surprise.   I sometimes shop the little local beauty boutiques (I like supporting them too) but must say that Sephora really knows how to put a pretty package together – especially around the holidays.  I specifically went to buy the mascara set (the lash stash) as a gift – they only had two left.  Anyway,  “Draw The Line” is a selection of six leading eyeliners designed to mix and match.  How could I resist?  You can buy them all individually as I’m quite certain the kit is no longer available.  They sell out fast.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Black Lace

These pencils have a very smooth application, so they are ideal when you want to contour the shape of your eye. They also work well for smoky eyes, as they blend well and are long wearing.

STILA Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Dark Brown

This is waterproof and one of the easiest liquid liners to use. The chocolate brown color is subdued and optimal for creating a daytime winged look.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

This pen’s application is super precise. The brush tip has a multitude of fibers that give your hand control and stability. It’s perfect for creating any graphic liner look.

NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto

The color in this pencil is rich and creamy, and it lasts 12 hours. It’s great for creating a deeply saturated waterline, as well as a blending.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in Blacquer
These pencils come with a sharpener on the end, so they are self-contained. The rich, waterproof formula glides on effortlessly and deposits just the right amount of color onto the eye. They are also excellent for smudging out.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Double Ended Eye Pencil in Perversion and Rockstar

The convenience of having two eyeliners with different finishes in one pencil is fantastic. The soft tips make them very easy to apply and create smoky eyes. Perversion (matte black) and Rockstar (dark purple) look beautiful when worn together or alone.

Not since I purchased the Fresh “sugar lips” set have I had so much fun playing with makeup.

What’s your obsession?