Sinful

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}
Ahhh marketing. Love the name and price {$1.99}. Found my midnight blue … perfect for the holidays.

The Road Less Traveled

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved} 

My daily jaunt to work consists of a nice drive through the backroads of spiraling countryside. As the sun was coming up and storm clouds were threatening to roll in, I found myself slowing down to keep from hitting a fawn. It’s not unusual to see deer on this road, but at that very second, with Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody blaring in the background, I had a moment. The small doe didn’t run across but languidly ran on the road and I slowly followed behind until she ran off into the tall grass. You know those moments where everything slows down and you see things clearly, and it’s perfect. 

Those moments exist and are most apparent when you are someplace different and taking in all the new sites and sounds … but clearly, it’s everywhere, even home. 

I’ve been reminiscing about distant places lately which brought my attention to one fellow traveler. I was inspired by his gumption and fearless attitude to live his dream. His name is Colin Wright and from the great town of CoMo. It’s inspiring to see someone young achieve what others may view as unattainable, but I believe most dreamers who are doers, do in fact succeed. It doesn’t hurt that he looks like a young Ethan Hawke and after receiving a quick reply from him, I had to smile at his motivational and networking skills. {By the way, Colin, I rarely watch TV, especially reality shows or So You Think You Can Dance … so that road block will never happen. However, the stupid voice comes in the form of my thinking, “I don’t want to end up like that guy who thought he could live with grizzly bears, only to be eaten up by one.” But thank you for keeping the traveling designer dream alive.}. Creative inspiration came from him this week, so I will place this shameless plug (he’s all over the map so one more won’t hurt) for Mr. Wright.

{source}

Lady and the Tramp

In the Disney animation, Lady, a lonely cocker spaniel falls for Tramp, a stray schnauzer-mix. Lady, in this case, is Beau who relentlessly pleaded for one of the pups from the Humane Society. How could I look into those lovely, dark eyes and say, “No.”

After much debate, we agreed on a name {sorry, Finn will be a future pup} that ties to our trip to London. Welcome our little Tramp – Heiney.

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

Tiny treat

It’s difficult to pass up this homemade treat {thank you, Monica, for the sweet treat and recipe} because it’s red velvet — my favorite. These cakes are moist and exceptional.

1 cake mix (prepare cake mix per instructions on the box)
*Cream cheese frosting:

1 pkg of cream cheese
2 ½ cups of powder sugar
¼ soften butter
1 tsp of vanilla

Almond Bark (your choice, chocolate or vanilla)

*{source: Monica Cain}

Prepare the cake mix as per instructions on the box. Bake cake 350 degrees. Once cake is baked, set to cool.

Once the cake is cool, crumble it in a large mixing bowl. Mix the crumbled cake together with the cream cheese frosting. Once mixed, place it in the refrigerator for about half an hour.

Roll the cake into balls then place them in the freezer for about an hour.

Once you have your rolled cake balls in the freezer, start melting the Almond Bark. 
Best way to melt Almond Bark: Need a skillet, stainless steel bowl and wooden spoon. Fill a skillet 1/3 full with water. Place the skillet on a medium burner. Allow the water a few minutes to heat. 
Place almond bark in a stainless-steel bowl or other bowl that will not be damaged by heat. Break the almond bark into smaller pieces to facilitate the melting process. 
Set the bowl of almond bark in the pan of water so the heat from the water can melt the almond bark slowly and indirectly. Once the almond bark begins to melt, stir continuously with a wooden spoon to keep it smooth. Use the melted almond bark as directed in your recipe. 
Remove the cake balls from the freezer and dip into the melted chocolate (Almond Bark) one at a time. Hold the cake ball and turn it back and forth or softly tap it, so the excess chocolate falls off.

Place cakes in the refrigerator to dry out completely. Once dry, you may wrap it individually. Scrumptious.

An afternoon with Carlos

Sprawled out on the black pleather sofa at Ragtag, I spent six hours watching Carlos: an epic about legendary Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Jackal, sex is a cocked gun and ready-to-blow grenade (and vice versa), terrorism is a vehicle for—and given meaning by—celebrity, and all the fervent platitudes about anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, and Palestinian causes prove secondary motivations to worship at the almighty cult of self.* {*source, film en stock}

In a nutshell, it was {for me} a history lesson on a terrorist; it was lengthy but surprisingly bearable thanks to saucy Ramirez; it was Edgar Ramirez and those eyebrow-raising shower scenes; it was a nice way to spend a snowy afternoon with my friend, Sam.

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

The 3-part film breaks allowed us to enjoy Uprise’s treats. Vanilla honey latte, mini mushroom turnover and maple pecan scone. YUM-mayy.

Hope springs eternal

One morning I woke to this. Blue sparkle. Snow. I took a photo with my Evo phone to capture the dread of cold. The next day it was gone and the sun came out along with the green. Balmy breeze and blooms of spring. Hope springs eternal. {Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

I’m having fun now

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved} 
There is nothing more fun than hopping in your sporty new car {in my case, a Mazda 3} and cruising the open road on a sunny, breezy afternoon. All whilst listening to the surfy, summery tunes of Jenny and Johnny. Jenny Lewis is a gem of a singer and my latest go-to-happy-music-girl. 
… living your life in the gray 
is the new American way 
we're spending what we haven't made 
and we save our money in good faith 
and we work hard for our living wage 
… big wave 

Afterwards, what could be better than a cold brew {Konig Bavarian Wheat} and delectable dessert {Irish Creme bread pudding with vanilla ice cream laden with caramel}. I can’t say enough wonderful things about 44 Stone Public House. We’re having fun now.

Ambrosia!

zoom-zoom

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

It started with tires, new battery, one window, then another window, and another, the back door, the fourth window, radiator … and now, quite possibly, the transmission. The Gods were telling me something. It’s time to let go of my JEEP. When I started a new job which required a daily commute, the weekly trips to the gas station put a nice dent in my pocketbook. Another sign. When the transmission began to show signs of trouble, it was time to move on. 

After figuring out our budget, checking reports on gas-efficient cars and loitering through car lots looking for the one, we found it. zoom-zoom. I am admittedly, the least knowledgeable when it comes to cars, but I know what I like when I see it. Not to mention, the Bluetooth which allows me to talk on my phone without the use of my hands is quite NICE. I think I’m in love. Let’s hope this is one, long {low-maintenance} lasting relationship.

snowapalooza

10 a.m.

1:50 p.m.

2:15 p.m.

3:35 p.m.

5 p.m.

6 p.m.

9 p.m.

SNOW

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BYS FLUTTERFULLY IF

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BIRDS BECAUSE AGAINS

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GLIB SCARCELYEST AMONGS FLOWERING

— e.e. cummings

Feb. 2, 2011  noon
{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}