I woke up very early today, and began it with a 4 a.m. bath. Yes, crazy! I did catch one of my favorite movies (1999), "Any Given Sunday" with my man, Al Pacino, and Jamie Foxx...such a great movie and a lot of great music. Robbie Robertson from The Band (if you're unfamiliar with Robbie's place in music history, please watch Martin Scorsese's "The Last Waltz" and see him also backing Bob Dylan in the film, "No Direction Home." Click HERE for his autobiography, "Testimony.") was in charge of the music, so no wonder it was great.
Anyway, before that viewing happened, I took a bath and slathered on this Enlite Super Face Liquid Assets Detoxifying Platinum Peel-Off Mask.
Whew! Yes, that's the official name. I bought it at the drugstore one day ($19.99) when I was feeling the need for some beautification. I happen to love peel-off masks, because they're so futuristically fun. This one comes off in rubbery, deflated balloon-like, metallic strips. Try to really let it fully dry. The parts on my neck that never quite dried because I kept accidentally submerging myself in the water took some time to rinse off. It was like it was "slippery" on my skin, and just wanted to stay on there. My skin did feel and look softer in the reveal. (-:
Look how fabulously thick and metallic this stuff is.
(Is it just me, or do you also see a happy eel head on this finger? See the eyeball on the upper, left-hand side and the smiling mouth underneath it?)
Peel away.
Here's the product description:
Make a smart investment! This unique, mineral-rich peel-off mask contains a proprietary anti-oxidant blend of Colloidal Platinum and Malachite Extract, along with a cocktail of anti-aging peptides. This mask helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin luminosity while it strips away dead skin cells and impurities to reveal immediate and visible results.
Contains OPTISHIELD™ our proprietary anti-oxidant complex to help protect against free radicals and environmental aggressors.
It doesn't contain:
No Parabens, No Sulfates, No Animal Testing
Directions:
Smooth a think layer over clean, dry skin, leave on for 20-30 minutes or until completely dry. Gently peel off from outer edges and rinse off any residue with warm water.
I have been on hiatus from my blog for quite a long time. I've been overhauling my art studio and investigating different passions of mine. I haven't quit making art, I just haven't been posting as much on my blog. You can find most of my output over on Instagram at @jujulabean.
There's a weird thing that has to happen every so often in your life. I read recently that you cannot always have expansion. That thought resonated with me, because it was exactly the way I was feeling. I'm still doing the work--making art--but I had to think in which way I wanted to head. It takes time to back the truck up, spin it around in repeated reverse/forward, reverse/forward lurches, and drive into a different direction.
I'm still mapping my way, but with the start of spring, and especially with the beginning of a new month, I feel ready to begin putting my fingers to the keyboard again.
I'm going to go a little freestyle in subject matter from here on out. For over 4 years I posted painting after drawing, drawing after painting. And although art is and always will be a huge part of my life, I also love fashion, cooking, chocolate, MUSIC, and things of beauty--including beauty products!
I've got an itch this year to complete a chocolatier program, to cook a new soup every day, and to continue illustrating every episode of HBO's Girlswhich is ending its series after 6 seasons. Look, some people only have one path. I feel like there is so much to see and do in this world before I croak that I want to skip down as many paths as I possibly can!
So I'm going to let my current stream of thought be my freewheelin' jazz approach to this blog until it goes through it's next metamorphosis.
Let's begin with the following. One of my favorite chocolatiers is Vosges Haut Chocolates based out of Chicago. You can find their website here, and specifically, their Easter offerings, here. Vosges is not, shall we say, inexpensive, but it is soooooooo delicious. Made with the finest ingredients, I respect the cost. Does that sound strange? To my way of thinking, just like calories, the cost doesn't matter as much when you're getting something for it...or as my great grandma used to say, cheap is expensive.
Watch for specials in shipping and percentages off which Vosges offers frequently. Finally, indulge and ENJOY!
From far left, Blueberry Lavendar Petunia Rabbit, Strawberry Lemon Max Rabbit, Crunchy Piemonte Hazelnut Emma Rabbit and Sicilian Pistachio Luella Rabbit Look at those sweet boxes, too! I'm a sucker for fine chocolates AND beautiful packaging!
Hey, please check out this beautiful video about Heath Yeo making traditional Kebayas by hand. He dedicates himself to making it the old-fashioned way. I love when he says his sewing machine gives the embroidery/cloth a certain "spirit." I love when people/artists/craftsmen and woman dedicate themselves to art over monetary gain. Thank you, Heath, for bringing beauty to this world. He is a testament of the work it takes to create original pieces of artwork.
Fabrizio took a vow to follow in the fastidious footsteps of all the bespoke tailors and haute couture seamstresses who had sewn before him. “Do not fear the prick of the needle,” they whispered over his shoulder. “Beauty is worth everything.”
Back in February, I had planned to spend each day documenting something that I loved. Well, you know the saying, "the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray."*
So, let me just sprinkle into March one of my greatest loves, the beauty of the black, female voice. Spend a little time with me; I've been fairly quiet on the verbal front, but it's changing on this post! (-;
Since I was just talking about the movie version of the play "Rock of Ages" (Day 90, "Feeling Awful, Have a Falafel"), let's start there.
O.K., so here's Julianne Hough singing Quarterflash's "Harden My Heart."** She does a good job, but pay attention after she kneels down to the ground in the rain, and that gorgeous, soulful voice of Mary J. Blige kicks in (1:19)...there's just no comparison! She reaches down deep and delivers!***
I mean, what would rock 'n' roll, the blues, soul be without those beautiful voices? Whether they're singing the lead or back-up, they touch deep down and deliver depths of emotion of joy, sadness, euphoria. I am eternally grateful.
Here are a few other songs that just couldn't exist without their presence:
"Tumbling Dice" Rolling Stones:
"Gimme Shelter" Rolling Stones -- Merry Clayton throughout, but especially starting at 2:42.
HEAVY use of black back-up singers on David Bowie's entire album--and one of my ALL-TIME favorites--"Young Americans" (except, "John, I'm Only Dancing"--ugh) Especially am enamored of the title track, "Fascination," "Right," and bonus track "It's Gonna Be Me.") Listening to this, I think, who am I kidding? Love all of them. And here's another realization, I love the saxophone with female, black singers, um, and a piano--a REAL piano. Oh, yeah, and I just simply LOVE music! Shocker!
I had this one on my FB page not long ago. "Slippery People" Talking Heads. Dancing and Singing fun.
By the way, there ARE a few white, female singers who deliver the same soul--seriously, Christina Aguilera, Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin, Linda Ronstadt, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga on some, (no particular order there), and Clare Torry. WHO, you ask? See immediately below!
Blue-eyed (Clare Torry) and brown-eyed soul: Pink Floyd's, "The Great Gig in the Sky"--UPDATE: **MONTHS later, I find my original post was removed--saying the video was no longer available in this country, so let's try this one instead: Sam Brown provides amazing white soul and brown-eyed heart-pouring belongs to Durga McBroom and Claudia Fontaine:
FOOTNOTES:
*For those of you who would like to join me, let's go on a little meandering journey here. The line ("Best Laid Plans...") comes from the Robert Burns' Scots (Scots language poem), "To A Mouse" from 1785.
Burns original
Standard English translation
Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty
Wi bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murdering pattle.
I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth born companion
An' fellow mortal!
I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
'S a sma' request;
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't.
Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's win's ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!
Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste,
An' weary winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.
That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou's turned out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld.
But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain: The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley,An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
Still thou are blest, compared wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!
Small, crafty, cowering, timorous little beast,
O, what a panic is in your little breast!
You need not start away so hasty
With argumentative chatter!
I would be loath to run and chase you,
With murdering plough-staff.
I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes you startle
At me, your poor, earth born companion
And fellow mortal!
I doubt not, sometimes, but you may steal;
What then? Poor little beast, you must live!
An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves
Is a small request;
I will get a blessing with what is left,
And never miss it.
Your small house, too, in ruin!
Its feeble walls the winds are scattering!
And nothing now, to build a new one,
Of coarse grass green!
And bleak December's winds coming,
Both bitter and keen!
You saw the fields laid bare and wasted,
And weary winter coming fast,
And cozy here, beneath the blast,
You thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel plough passed
Out through your cell.
That small bit heap of leaves and stubble,
Has cost you many a weary nibble!
Now you are turned out, for all your trouble,
Without house or holding,
To endure the winter's sleety dribble,
And hoar-frost cold.
But little Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes of mice and men Go often awry,And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!
Still you are blessed, compared with me!
The present only touches you:
But oh! I backward cast my eye,
On prospects dreary!
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear!
**The original Quarterflash video of "Harden My Heart." 1980's strangeness!
***Just another aside: Somehow Mary J. Blige low humming at the beginning of her part (in "Harden My Heart") reminds me of Thelma Houston at the beginning of "Don't Leave Me This Way."
