Olivia's 3rd Birthday!

We celebrated at the park close by and ordered a bounce house. The bounce house was such a good idea. The kids were contained and amused for the whole day. Zach made some delicious dill chicken kabobs and we ordered some spanish rice. Olivia wanted double chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles on top (chocolate is her new found love... :/). So I made them using Pamela's recipe - they came out perfect and gluten free!! Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us. I'm glad we got a chance to all hang out on a beautiful day.

15 Questions for Monica

Name: Monica Giannina Gelpi Bradnan


Birthday: April 13, 1976



1. Where are your family roots from? As I understand, our maternal Grandmother’s side is French & Spanish, maternal Grandfather’s side is French and paternal Grandmother’s side is Spanish, and paternal Grandfather’s side is Spanish & Portuguese (Madiera).


2. How have your parents/guardian influenced you? I feel like having a Mother like our Mom helped me with really listening to others and paying attention to others & eventually my own emotional states & needs. Dad instilled a certain drive for productivity and strong work ethic plus a love of friendship & partying.


3. Can you remember your earliest childhood memory of happiness and that of fear? Happiness was wearing my tall, brown cowboy boots at 3-4 years old. Fear was waking from sleep after hearing tons of breaking glass and not knowing what the sound was or what it meant at a 5-6 years old.


4. Is there something in your life that you feel very passionate about? Friendship. I forever hold dear-to-my-heart, true friendships.


5. If you could be any animal, what animal would that be? plant? and insect? why? Animal: Bird, to fly without the inherent feeling of fear of heights or death from flying. Plant: Grass or Bamboo, grass so that people can lay around looking upwards, kids can run and do somersaults... Bamboo for its strength, beauty and magical music it makes in the wind. Insect:Praying Mantis, I know nothing about these dudes except they look AWESOME and they look even more awesome when they rub their hands together. 


6. What is it about being an acupuncturist that keeps you satisfied for it to be your career? It keeps my mind active, my hands busy and my heart full.


7. What is your process? I really try to listen to what people tell me about their life that creates & contributes to them not feeling well and then listen to what I hear beyond the words they are telling me. It makes for a real, deep & therapeutic conversation which invites healing before the needles go in or herbs are taken. 


8. Can you tell us something that you just learned that intrigued you? Many women are born with a congential blood clotting disorder that worsens with each pregnancy they have. They don’t know they have it unless they test for it but it would explain why some have several continuous miscarriages and can suffer CVAs (strokes) and possible brain hemorrhages just from getting pregnant or after giving birth. This is interesting for our generation when 2 generations ago women were having super large families with much lower incidences of this.


9. What is your perception of how people see you? Lately, others see me much younger than I am & I’m kinda loving that.


10. What are you listening to these days? I recently came out of a period of less music listening and find myself back into music and it’s great. I really like Spotify, so, today I listened to The Kills, Beck, Santigold, Devendra Banhart, Beach House, Beach Fossils, Modest Mouse (xo), Bishop Allen.


11. What's the best and worst decision you ever made? Best decision was to start seeing a psychotherapist and finally getting breaking into the “Monica Safe”. I’ve made more bad decisions than I can list or remember frankly but I’ve learned from each and don’t regret anything enough to say “This was the worst ever”. I mean, I kinda say that everytime I make a bad decision, but I’m learning to love my “human moments” and give up on absolutes.


12. Can you narrate to me your proudest moment? Giving birth at home, naturally with the support of some of the truest people I know. It was a palatable primal experience that pushed me to my edges and I came thru a winner; sweating, flushed, shaking, and (physically) torn but holding my equally strong little baby boy.


13. What do you find most ridiculous about life? Hate. Hating Gays, hating fat people, hating what people wear, hating Obama, hating the poor, hating immigrants, hating the youth, and so on...


14. Can you share a topic that causes your blood to boil? The selfish space some pro-lifers derive their deep necessity to beat pro-choicers emotionally, psychically, spiritually, and physically.    


15. If you could take a peek in your future (say 10 years from now), what would it look like? Happy, Fulfilled, Prosperous and Busy with a 12 year old. What!? 12! Incredible.




Thank you, sister! 

You can find Monica at The Center of Wellness in Maitland, FL. I was able to visit a couple time and just love the vibe going on there. Everyone is so kind and lovely to talk with. Monica fits right in :). 

15 Questions for Larissa

Name: Larissa Kulyk Williams
Birthday: 10/17/1979

1. Where are your family roots from? Ukraine and Poland, Slavic through and through;)

2. How have your parents/guardian influenced you? A lot! Too much, trying to get them out of my head lately:) but my dad was an immigrant and the old school European values really played a big part in my childhood.

3. Can you remember your earliest childhood memory of happiness and that of fear? My memory is not what it once was... I can't pinpoint specifics, I know I was a really happy kid. I liked playing alone, outside mostly, and also loved playing with friends. I remember walking along the riverbed on our family property in upstate ny and looking down at my belly dressed in a purple and white striped bathing suit which made me think of Planter's Mr. Peanut, and then making up a little diddy 'I'm a little peanut '...I still sing the song sometimes... Sun shining down, close to setting, summertime... That was a happy memory, I was prob 3 1/2 years old. Not very many fear memories... Most recent was last year. My sister was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer... That fear is constant, not yet a memory…

4. Is there something in your life that you feel very passionate about? Oh man! So much! Love love love! Teaching peace and love to children, I truly believe is the only way to save our planet. So much energy, money, time, and lives are wasted. Education will save us if we give it a chance! Oh also the honey bee! Gotta plant some flowers and save the bees!

5. If you could be any animal, what animal would that be? plant? and insect? why? I never know how to answer that question... I like being human, but if I had to choose I think I'd like to be a bird, a nice song bird. They look so peaceful flying. I'd like to fly like a bird:) Honeybee would be my insect, my grandfather was an apiarist Maybe a dandelion for a plant, so I could take flight with the seeds:)

6. What is it about being a school teacher that keeps you satisfied for it to be your career? It sure as hell ain't the money!!!! It's fun and keeps you active. Children will love you and idolize you if you respect them... So basically I get to be a superstar everyday and perform for these kids.... I am an extrovert and a performer, so I feel like I'm on stage and the children are the best audience:) and there really is nothing like seeing a child 'get it' for the first time , and knowing you helped him get there

7. What is your process? and heroes? Maria Montessori all the way! Her basic philosophy is the idea of a triangle . The child at the top point, and the teacher, and the prepared learning environment on the bottom two points... Inside the triangle, everything is held together by love and respect.

8. Can you tell us something that you just learned that intrigued you? I listened to an npr piece on how everything is connected. The guy implied that the Earth is one large, living, breathing creature. And everything on it affects the other... How we all rely on each other, plankton, krill, whales, wolves, rivers... It was very eloquent and the guy wrote a book... But I can't remember what it's called:/ Also how extremely serious our honeybee situation is:( And I just watched a video of an elephant painting a picture, really amazing!:)

9. What is your perception of how people see you? I like to say I don't care, and try to lead my life that way. But I'm a pleaser, and never want anyone to dislike me... It makes me really anxious if someone 's not happy with me... I think I'm pretty nice, or at least I try…

10. What are you listening to these days? Carole king pandora station. Lots of late hippy music and soulful wailing:)

11. What's the best and worst decision you ever made? Having kids

12. Can you narrate to me your proudest moment? Most of my pride comes from my sweet angel babies, daily, I fluff my momma duck feathers and like to show them off:) Personally, I'm still trying to get there... Working on myself these days….

13. What do you find most ridiculous about life? Religion

14. Can you share a topic that causes your blood to boil? I can get pretty fiery... About a lot of things... But I can't think of one now… Wait! the state of education in this country is so infuriating to me….

15. If you could take a peek in your future (say 10 years from now), what would it look like? I'd have my own school, maybe get more involved in the community, I'd like to get really good at gardening, and I'd be enjoying myself and my family wherever im at in 10 years:)

7. (part deux) What are the qualities that draw you to people that you can base a friendship on? Intelligence is top of the list:) Humor is second. And you must love drinking wine with me:)


Thank you, Lu!

Check out 15 questions from Larissa's Husband, Jason Williams / back in Sept. 2013


all photos were used from Larissa's Facebook photo albums / Sunset beach photo: photo from Jennifer Parr Iudice

15 Questions for Johannah

• 1. Where are your family roots from? My mom’s side of the family is from the Detroit area, and my dad’s is from Pennsylvania and North Carolina. His NC roots go back to the founding of Winston Salem. Both of my parents moved to Miami when they were teenagers and went to the same high school (but not at the same time). Ironically, they met in NYC.

  2. How have your parents/guardian influenced you? Many of my family members are artistic, so I was surrounded by art my whole life. Being creative and productive was encouraged and expected. Our giant History of Modern Art book was one of my favorites as a kid. Also, growing up in Sarasota helped a lot. The Ringling Museum was free on Saturdays, so our dad would take us often.

  3. Can you remember your earliest childhood memory of happiness and that of fear? I remember being an infant lying in a crib, so my memories started really early on. I think I was happy in my crib. I have many childhood memories of fear and insecurity, but one of the first involved a nightmare about a man with two faces. It was very disturbing.
  

  

  4. Is there something in your life that you feel very passionate about? I feel very passionate about animal welfare. I became a vegetarian at age 13 after dissecting a fetal pig in biology class (YUCK). I’m a big advocate for animal rescue as well. If I won the lottery, I’d buy a farm and fill it with rescued dogs!

  5. If you could be any animal, what animal would that be? plant? and insect? why? I’d probably be either a bird or a dolphin. Being able to fly or swim would be amazing. It might be nice to be a vine, to extend myself over a large area. Not sure what insect I’d be. Maybe a bee.

  6. What is it about being an artist that keeps you satisfied for it to be your career? Well, I’m an art teacher and a painter. I don’t think I’d be satisfied with just one or the other. I like the interactions I have with other people at work. Painting alone in a studio can be very isolating. Also, I don’t make enough as a painter to pay the bills. I like painting, because it feels good to create and to share my work with others. Sometimes I think of all the stuff I’d like to do around the house and yard, and I get bummed out, but honestly, I’d rather have too little free time than too much of it.
  

  

  
  

  7. What is your process? medium? and influences? My process: Get an idea, go look for reference material, make a mock-up in Photoshop, transfer it to my panel, and paint! The actual painting part is pretty technical. All the creativity is in the planning. I was a printmaking major in college, so that’s the kind of workflow I’m used to/comfortable with. I don’t like to leave too much to chance. I paint with Golden OPEN acrylics. I love them. My influences range from surrealism to photorealism, from pop art to low brow stuff. I’m a big fan of craftsmanship. I like art that takes a lot of skill/time. Maybe this comes from all those years looking at oil paintings at The Ringling!

  8. Can you tell us something that you just learned that intrigued you? I learned that dogs process information and may feel emotions in a way that’s similar to the way humans feel them. That’s pretty intriguing! http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/opinion/sunday/dogs-are-people-too.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

  9. What is your perception of how people see you? I try not to think too much about how other people see me. I’m kind of shy and introverted, so if I thought too much on that, I would probably never leave the house. Other people have told me that I am charismatic, or good at small talk, or whatever, but I don’t see myself that way at all. I kind of feel like Log Lady w/out the log most of the time. Maybe I should get a log.
  

  

  10. What are you listening to these days? I listen to a lot of stuff, but right now mostly The Shins, Miike Snow, MGMT, and other folky stuff like that. Also like Santigold, The Sounds, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And 90s indie rock: Jawbreaker, J Church, Fifteen, etc. Oh, and classic rock of course. Always!

  11. What's the best and worst decision you ever made? Best decision? Marrying my husband Adriaan. He’s the most important thing in the world to me, and he’s completely changed my life for the better. The worst decision? Hmmmm. Maybe not pursuing my masters degree. Although, if I had got to grad school, everything would be different now, and I really like my life the way it is.

  12. Can you narrate to me your proudest moment? I think my proudest moment was when my 2011 solo show at Bold Hype was made available for presales. A lot of work sold before the show even opened, which was very nice! I try not to feel overly proud of stuff, because I see what pride does to people (it makes them insufferable), but I was happy and encouraged for sure.
  

  

  13. What do you find most ridiculous about life? All of life is ridiculous. People who take it seriously, they’re pretty funny, too.
  14. Can you share a topic that causes your blood to boil? Canned safari hunts. Well, ALL safari hunts, but the canned ones are the worst. Some asshole posing with a sad old circus lion he just shot: that kills me inside a little. Also, wolf hunting. The idea that we have the right to kill animals to protect our businesses, that we place ourselves and our profits above all living things. It’s gross.
  15. If you could take a peek in your future (say 10 years from now), what would it look like? I have no idea what my life is going to look like in 10 years. I mean, really, anything could happen. We should have our house paid off by then, so that’ll be nice!
  
  
  Check out the rest of Johannah's portfolio ----> johannahodonnell.com
  
  Thank you, Johannah!
  
  
  
  
  

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 - I have more photos to share. I guess I forgot all about a christmas post. yikes. It's really just Eli and Olivia ripping open presents. It's the end of February and they are so much bigger than in this photo. crazy how physically fast they grow. anyway - I'll be back for this post.

Cultural Day

Our First Gluten Free Thanksgiving

I thoroughly enjoyed eating my Thanksgiving dinner this year and like most years, my plate was filled with all the traditional toppings like turkey, mashed potatoes, gf stuffing, cranberry sauce, three-bean salad and cornbread. Except this year, we made everything Gluten-Free since we're all going strong on this diet... except for Zach. He has beautiful healthy guts that are not effected by today's ugly wheat flour. He got lucky. I, on the other hand, am living the life of substituting all things that are gluten with almost any alternative. It can be challenging at very hungry times but for the most part, I get by with a little help from my gluten-free product friends. I'm happy they're coming out with more variety and better flavors. I'm thinking about making a gf pizza crust soon. We eat pizza A LOT - I'd say at least once a week. It's our easy go-to fast friday night dinner. We eat Udi's pizza and Against the Grain pesto pizza most of the time. We love it! but with all products, the flavor can get predictable and boring, so, I'm venturing into spending more time making pizza dough from scratch. We do make about 80 percent of our meals from scratch - lots of soups and latin dishes but not the pizza. The pizza comes out of a box and that's just not always the way we want to eat our pizza. Anyway, back to Thanksgiving, oh yes, food on my plate... it was oh so good but there was one thing missing. Oh yes, people, more family - a crowd. Gosh, last year was amazing with the amount of people we shared thanksgiving with even though none were close family family... friend family yes but our mothers or siblings, not so much. Even though I missed them all at that time, it may have been one of my favorite dinners ever. This year was spent with my mother, Zach and Olivia. It was just the four of us with plenty of delicious food. One good thing about making all the dishes at home was all the leftovers. That was nice. Whelp, that was our Thanksgiving - short and sweet but with lots of flavor. Let's hope that next year we can marinate the two years - last years crowd with this years food.

Look at this little model… so beautiful.