Zach Sobiech knew more at 17 than most of us will ever know about making the most of life.  His motto, "just make other people happy."  He died of osteo sarcoma May 20, 2013.  This video is a worthwhile 20 minutes.

I am a little obsessed with the new Sara Bareilles single, Brave. It fits....  a little too perfectly... I don't relate to the video, however. Literally juvenile. Ignore the video and heed the lyrics.

You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love
Or you can start speaking up
Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do
And they settle ‘neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave...

And, while we're on the subject of Ms. B, her song Gravity is such a passionate depiction of an addiction to a love that isn't good for you and trying to break free from it -- not an easy task.

So You Think You Can Dance had an award-winning performance featuring this little number by Mia Michaels <3

Nothing better than amazing movement and amazing music creating an amazingly emotional response.  Amazing!  

If It Kills Me

Misty Blue

Mercy

Big and colorful statement jewelry.  You wear it because you want to be trendy, fashionable. You want to stand out.

It's still hot but I'm bored with it.  I've seen enough over-the-top plastic, epoxy, big and bauble-y necklaces and bracelets. They are rarely made well so that they can sell inexpensively. You can just look at them and smell the cheap.

I'm not saying all eye-catching pieces should go away.  But it is time to make a new, bold, individual statement. A little drama can be fabulous. Well-made standout pieces made with taste and craft are timeless and fun. I'm saying choose wisely, tastefully, with individuality.

As for the plastic and epoxy chunky colorful things, sorry, I've seen you too many times by now.  You are passe. You have been far too blatantly obvious for too long already and are no longer new or interesting.  You are like bell bottoms or neon dresses or big hair... it's fun for a while but you just can't take too much of it.

A better accessory statement to make is unique, interesting, worth a second look.  Worth a long stare even.  Your style accented perfectly yet not too overtly is always the best statement.  And, remember to focus. Make your focal point a standout earrings OR necklace OR clutch OR bracelet. Not all at once.

Think of the art of flirting.  A quiet meeting of the eyes can be much more intriguing than an overt "Hey baby, damn you look fine!".   

Make your statement, leave your mark, stand out in a crowd, be 100% you, venture into experimental territory.  Just do it in a way that's worth a second glance or an envious stare. 

Make them wonder how you put together the most amazing and unexpected combination.  Play with hard and soft, feminine and masculine, tight and flowy.  Wear a feminine sheer black top and pair it with a chunky chain with a big horn.  Your pieces should "go", but not necessarily match.  An eclectic combination is always better than a perfectly plotted and matched outfit.  

Just like your personality shouldn't be too conforming, neither should be your style. Make your statement elegantly, effortlessly, unexpectedly even fiercely.

Just remember, we cover our ears when we hear a scream and yet lean in to hear a whisper.

Warm chocolate chip cookies.  Yum.  There's really nothing quite like them.  My kids (okay, me too) eat them up.  I almost always have a log of dough in the refrigerator ready to make a couple of cookies on demand since they aren't good cold; cookies have to be fresh from the oven.

I have a standby recipe that I've adapted from the Toll House recipe.  It has a lot more body so they aren't too soggy and flat and they are chock full of chips.  Everyone says they are the best cookies they have had.  Sure, the cookie you are eating right now is always the best one so I take it with a grain of salt, but they really are pretty damn.

Since I've turned vegan, I can't enjoy them like I used to and I also have a new gluten free requirement in my family so I've been experimenting with alterations that are vegan, gluten free AND still tasty.  It's a tall order to be sure.

I have hit upon a couple of variations that everyone seems to like and so I'm smiling with a "Eureka!" in my heart and the joy of a warm and delicious chocolate chip cookie in my tummy.  Sure, just because it is vegan and gluten free doesn't make it healthy, but it is healthier by a bit and who is eating a dozen anyway.  One or two every so often is all you need.

Both recipes are a staple in my house and I am going to let the secret for both of them out now... 

Both cook at 350 degrees for about 13 minutes, don't overcook.  Bake only what you will eat right out of the oven and put the rest in a log shape in some plastic wrap in the refrigerator (or form into cookie sized balls and freeze) for later.  Don't ever serve cold.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: non vegan, gluten filled

You should note that there is about twice the amount of sugar and chocolate and almost twice the amount of flour than the original recipe calls for.

In the mixer:

1 stick of butter, melted in the microwave for 30 seconds
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar

Cream together, then add:

1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix again, then put on top of that:

2 cups of flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Mix, then add a 6 oz. of chocolate chips and 6 oz. of white chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips)

Two kinds of chips is so much better than one.

Bake and enjoy.  I have passed this recipe along and have had a person or two say the dough is "dry".  It is drier than other doughs, but I have never had a crumbly dough myself.  Don't skip melting the butter and make sure your flour isn't too packed.  You can start with 1 1/2 cups flour and add until you have a nice, firm dough. For me, this is always about 2 cups.  You will probably have to smush the dough together because there are so many chips, but that is because there are so many chips and not because the dough is too dry. 

VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE (but still damn good) CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Adapted from the above recipe.

In the mixer:

1 stick of Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks (don't buy something else, this is the best tasting one), melted in the microwave for 30 seconds
1/2 cup sugar (or substitute the equivalent of agave syrup)
1/2 cup brown sugar

Cream together, then add:

ener-g subtitution for 1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix again, then put on top of that:

1 cup of oat flour and 1 cup of almond flour (or, you can make your own favorite combination of gluten free all-purpose flour*, oat flour, almond flour and brown rice flour depending on what you have on hand and your flavor preferences)
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Mix, then add a 12 oz. of vegan chocolate chips (Trader Joe's chips are vegan and good)

Bake and enjoy.

*Trader Joe's has a gluten free all-purpose flour that is pretty good, healthier than most other options I have seen but not as healthy as half oat and half almond flour is.

Busby Berkeley was an influential Broadway and Hollywood director and choreographer from the 1930's through the 1960's. The images his choreography made are rare today but I find them fascinating, artistic and definitely worth a second glance. Almost like what a dance would look like through a kaleidoscope of if drawn from a Spirograph (remember those?).  

From the Cosmo Cricket blog... such a great and easy way to pack up a gift and make the receiver feel they are special to you.  Great for jewelry, cookies or anything else on the small side.

You need a 12"x12" piece of printed scrap booking paper.  Here is what the finished box looks like:

Here's the cool how-to video:

Delicate, handmade, whimsical and simply wearable.  For your minimalist days, Fresh Tangerine has the perfect little adornments.  Sterling silver or gold-filled.  A few styles are below, visit AccessoryFoundry.com for more.

... when AJS Design Studio makes such great things to enjoy in this life.

All sterling jewelry with 22 kt gold plating, oxidized finishes and cubic zirconium crystal accents.  Styles are delicate, understated and perfect for everyone.  Not a dramatic statement, but one that is peaceful and right for most days and outfits.  Great quality and pricing too.  Like I said, heaven.