Go ye merry revelers and enjoy this autumn glow!

October is fading fast and it's a favorite time of year here in the Holy City. Leaves are changing and gracefully falling from branches, the skies are brilliant blue, and holiday spirit is beginning to make its way into our souls...let's cherish this autumn moment...

Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.

~Carol Bishop Hipps

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.

~Stanley Horowitz

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
~John Donne

Besides the autumn poets sing,
A few prosaic days
A little this side of the snow
And that side of the haze.
~Emily Dickinson

October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter.

~Nova Bair

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

~George Eliot

Too bad, sold out!

But keep checking in...this first-of-its-kind, ad-hoc, user generated unconference sounds veeeeeeery interesting!

Must Read Charlie...

For any of you hip, relevant, socialites in this lovely city,

be sure you're checking in regularly to this in-the-know, of-the-moment, at-the-scene resource!

READ CHARLIE
now

"...CHARLIE is an online magazine that recognizes the forward-thinking people and things that are shaping the future of Charleston; celebrating fashion, society, current issues, travel, food and wine, local people, places, art, design, literature and health & beauty, all bringing fresh and inventive perspective to the Lowcountry..."

Om Mani Padme Hum

Far too long...

...it has been since I've made an appearance or posted.
...no excuse other than allowing this busy life to get in the way.
...inspired by many to keep this baby alive.

And with that, here is the beginning of the rest of it all:

...a daily dose from the Garden...

The future is always beginning now.

~Mark Strand, Reasons for Moving~

Center 4 Women - Special Event this Thursday

Thursday, Jan. 31

5pm-7pm

Book Signing with Kelly Love Johnson, writer & editor of our beloved Skirt! magazine

"...Straight from the skirt! mother ship, Kelly Love Johnson tells it like it is. This funny, irreverent, and practical guide provides women with the information they need to avoid making common self-sabotaging mistakes, all the while closing their own wage gap and breaking through the glass ceiling. Kelly got her first job at age fifteen, worked full-time through two college degrees and is now the managing editor of skirt! magazine..."

For more info, check out the C4W website here!

Scientific discovery...

Browsing for new decor inspiration

(suspended, lighting or kissing ball-esque ideas, to be exact),

I stumbled across this image that has absolutely nothing to do with uplighting, kissing, floral decor, or my April event at Boone Hall Cotton Dock, but I find it to be ever-so interesting and fabulous.

More years ago than I wish to count,

Isaac Newton and David Gregory

took part in a merry debate on the campus of Cambridge University.

They were arguing about the "kissing problem", a term signifying two balls making contact in the game of billiards.

Now, I cannot tell you what details the argument entailed, nor can I offer any information about the following image, but I can tell you that the composition itself is fun, fabulous, and just perfect for a little LK experimentation.

I'm no scientist, but I know striking design when I see it.

...stay tuned for my experiment results!

It can't be!!??!!

...But so it is in the life of trends and ever-evolving tastes and style...

...especially in the culinary world...

Globe and Mail reported earlier this week that comfort food is out!

(whimper, sniff, tear)

No more mac n' cheese served up in petite spoons atop a bed of fried okra...

No more Southern fried chicken piled up on the passing trays at NY's hippest soiree's...

So what will be taking the place of meatloaf and mashed potatoes at the next big event??

Sources say Extreme Cuisine is the new wave of culinary chic.

Odd ingredients, new twists on not-so-popular tastes...this should be interesting.

Thank goodness I'm a born n' bred Southern lass,

with the ability and duty to serve up a hot plate o' goodness at any time of the day or night.

And, there's always the infamous Mac n' Cheese to be had at

Cru Cafe

...see you there!

Today is the beginning ...

Little do most of you know

that a most glorious golden egg sits within our lowcountry heaven,

waiting for all you aspiring success stories

to seize the moment!

Lowcountry Graduate Center,

conveniently located just off 526 near the airport,

offers "the perfect diet" for your growing career and professional endeavors.

By providing graduate degrees and programs

through continuous learning and evening classes,

LGC can "feed and nourish" your mind,

not to mention your absolutely-achievable career goals.

The space is modern, comfortable, and tech saavy,

and I'd be willing to bet you'd run into a few familiar faces

in the student lounge area...

...perhaps a future client, business partner, or colleague...

Now, really...

where else can you find courses from

South Carolina's top public colleges and universities,

such as MUSC, Clemson, USC, College of Charleston, and The Citadel?

(I can hear your speechless enthusiasm.)

Just take a bite, give it a taste...

see how our very own Lowcountry Graduate Center can enhance your world!

Color me fabulous!

I have the most adorable client

who is planning a November wedding here in Charleston.

After sending me her packet of "clippings"

for her take on design concepts,

I was immediately inspired by this fabulous color palate

and couldn't resist finding fun new ways to incorporate!

Stand back, pink and gold...

Take a seat, chocolate and teal...

It's time to rest a bit, red and robin's egg blue...

Emerald & Aqua

That's where it's at, ya'll!!!!

And, just purrrfect as Spring gets closer...

Not to mention a perfect pair of hues for the gem-studded trend of '08!!

See these fanstastic ways to play up any decor or fashion fix...

...and, if the color combo doesn't tickle you enough,

how about this?

Emerald green is not only the gemstone for May babes

(that would include moi),

but it is also thought to be the ultimate shade favored by Venus, Goddess of Love...

Can you say Ooh La La?!

Now GET out there,

grab hold of your inner design guru,

and spice things up a bit!

You'll be OOH so glad you did :)

Behold, the time has come...

I remember when I thought the year 2000 was so far away...indeed, that moment in time IS so far away, tucked deeply in the past with only traces of memory flashes here and there.

And now here I am, on the last day of 2007. Oh, what an incredible year. I've been so high and so low, and in this moment I'm eager to see the new year's dawn.

So, here's a salute to all the grand moments of our past

and a cheerful toast to all the amazing adventures just over the horizon.

Don't spend another minute thinking of ways to be better this year...

throw that list of resolutions out with yesterday's trash.

All that needs to happen is already upon us...

Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts.

This is the secret of success.

~Swami Sivananda~

(One of those grand moments...circa 2005)

For this grey, wet Friday....

Straight from the Garden:

Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

~Langston Hughes~

For simply beautiful inspiration...

...enjoy a few moments with Alicia Bock...

a dear friend passed her link along to me and I now visit her online world religiously...

for art, photos, creative goodness...

...keep the karma blooming and pass along, too...

Alicia Bock Photography

Bloom, Grow, Love BLOG

A humble thought for the weekend...

...My husband offered up these words in the form of a card recently...

"Success is getting what you want...

...Happiness is wanting what you get."

~Author Unknown~

Here's to those of us who are turning that corner.....

This is so true...

Women are always beautiful.

~Ville Valo~

My daily thought, compliments of the Garden.

***

Found myself standing in a most fascinating place this morning, surrounded by some fascinating women.

Who, you ask?

http://www.c4women.org/

Go meet them yourself, this Sunday afternoon from 2-5pm at the Citadel Holiday Alumni House, Hagood Avenue.

They're hosting a lowcountry women author's book signing and will even have special holiday gift wrappers on hand for those fabulous gift-givers in need of the purrrfect gift for that Southern gal on the holiday list.

(You know I love to promote shopping...and this is the best kind! Snack and mingle while you support a more-than-worthy cause!)

So, get out there and meet the most dynamic women in Charleston.

Go...get a book for yourself, too. You've earned it!

Giving is Receiving...

'Tis the season for giving...receiving...eating...overspending...traveling...partying

...lights...

(sigh)

No time to rest, weary wisemenandwomen!

That merry season of chaos is right upon us!

So far this holiday, I've been busy at work, searching out all the many things I "need", snapping up all the many things I can "give".

Come to think of it - most of the people on my shopping list are quite blessed...

...and, I know I have alot to be thankful for this year. I've been "receiving" right and left! Quite frankly, I really don't "need" anything.

(shhh! don't tell my husband I said that)

I pause for a daily dose from the Garden.

We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.

~Seneca~

Hmmm - here's an idea:

In lieu of making a long wish list this year or standing in those long, holiday-ridden retail lines,

consider one of these "gift" options for your letter to Santa:

Give a kindergarten class art supplies, or supply a high school library with the complete works of Shakespeare.

DonorsChoose.org

Enable our future.

Send a gift card of $10 and up to a child who can return to this website and give that money to the cause of his or her choice.

MarkMakers.org

Save an elephant, vaccinate a child - take your pick, super holiday shopper! This site offers more over 30 causes your holiday dollars can support. You can even create your own holiday card that will be included with your gift, sent straight to the recipient.

ChangingthePresent.org

Now, get out there and GIVE!

(Consider the above my holiday wishes)

My new Zen

Huntington Beach

... named after Archer & Anna Hyatt Huntington, this state park has everything to offer, and it's just a short trip up Hwy 17.

Magnificent shoreline, beachside campsites, and Atalaya (my new Zen and the Huntington's winter home, Archer's masterpiece, and Anna's sculpture studio).

Hop across the highway to Brookgreen Gardens to see their legacy - an exquisite and grand collection of sculpture gardens...a perfect spot for walking inspiration.

...the spirit of philanthropy, art, and beauty silently envelop the senses at Huntington...I cannot wait to return.

Live Now...

The weekend before me tells of an adventure in camping, kayaking, and chilly, chilly fireside ponderings...

a farewell to our week with

thoughts from the GARDEN.

With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

See all you fabulous women there...

I've been looking forward to this evening's

Women Making a Difference

Grant Awards...

...hope to see a few familiar faces and perhaps make a few new friends, too.

Kudos, WMAD, for generously contributing over $100,000 in grant money to local non-profits!!!

This type of fabulous do-good is just another reason to stay inspired!!!!

buona fortuna, jar

Found this on a wall in New York City, winter before last.

I've had it tacked to the wall ever since..

...Sits just to the right of me at all times...

Keeping Things Whole

mark strand

In a field

I am the absence of field.

This is always the case.

Wherever I am

I am what is missing.

When I walk

I part the air and always

the air moves in

to fill the spaces

where my body's been.

We all have reasons

for moving.

I move

to keep things whole.