out and about in st. louis: labor day weekend edition

Bluefish
Cicero's 6691 Delmar Blvd
September 2nd 5:00 PM
$10-$12

Bluefish's sound has been likened to Coldplay, Bon Iver, Scattered Trees, Third Eye Blind and John Mayer.  If that isn't enough to make you head to Cicero's on Sunday night, check out their website, where you can listen to songs and read the press they've been getting.

Girls Gone Wild: Contemporary Women's Graffiti Exposed
Phantom 1300 Washington Ave. 63103
through September 2nd

The first national showcase of contemporary American women's graffiti is being shown at Phantom through Sunday. See works by artists like Indie 184, Jules Muck and Lady Aiko. Admission is free.

Julian Beever's work

Chalk Festival
Delmar Loop University City, MO 63130
September 1st 9:00AM

The 2nd annual Chalk Festival, sponsored by Blick Art Materials, promises to beautify the busy strip. Participating artists are asked to check in at Chuck Berry Plaza ($10 for adults participants, $8 for 13-18 year olds, $4 for children under 12).  Chalk art will be judged and prizes awarded to winners in four categories. Spectators are welcome to watch art in progress. and four categories for a chance to win a prize.



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Japanese Festival
Missouri Botanical Gardens
September 1st - September 3rd
$10-$15

In its 35th year, the Japanese Festival has become one of the Missouri Botanical Garden's most well-attended events.  Expect a celebration of Japanese culture through live music, cooking demos, a kimono fashion show, storytelling, and martial arts and sumo wrestling demonstrations.  You can also appreciate the garden's 100-year-old cherry blossom trees, a gift from Japan to the United States in 1912.

Art Fair
Queeny Park
August 31st - September 2nd
$5 admission fee

One of the longest-standing art fairs in Missouri, the Art Fair at Queeny Park boasts over 130  top artists from 20 states selling jewelry, paintings, photographs, sculptures and more.  You can find a coupon for $1 off admission at the fair's website.

How are you spending your long weekend?

lip-smacking good: red velvet cheesecake mousse in chocolate cups

I am always looking for delicious, party-friendly recipes that have big impact but can be made quickly and easily.  This red-velvet cheesecake mousse fulfills all of this criteria.  I made some for Diane's Baby Shower and had several guests ask me for the recipe. What's more, all of the mousse cups were gone by the end of the shower.  My modifications to this recipe appear below:

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c soymilk
1 box cheesecake flavored instant pudding mix
1/2 c red velvet cake mix
3/4 small tub cool whip
1 bag chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Combine soymilk and pudding mix in medium bowl.
2. Mix in cake mix.
3. Fold in cool whip and use hand mixer to incorporate thoroughly.
4. Melt chocolate in microwave and pour into rounded cup mold.
5. Freeze molds until chocolate becomes hard (15-20 minutes).
6. Pop out chocolate from molds and spoon mousse into cups (you can use icing decorating tool instead of spoon if you prefer)

california: part one

 the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psalms 37:11 the

God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence. Love, redolent with unselfishness bathes all in beauty and light.

Science and Health 516:9-13

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you?

Luke 12:27,28 (to 3rd ,)

The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by His creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.

Science and Health 516:4

**This summer, I spent a few weeks in California engaging in spritual discovery and growth by taking a class through my church.  In the evenings I would take walks in the hills and woods that surrounded me and contemplate all that I was learning.  Over the next few days, I'll be sharing a few photos from my trip.**

dusty's birthday

Dusty celebrated a year of growth in grace, loyalty and obedience with a beautiful, tasty sundae, made with love by the Three Dog Bakery.  We also enjoyed a long walk together and plenty of cuddle time.  Looking forward to many more celebratory sundaes with my best bud.

scenes from a baby shower

My friends Diane & Stuart are about to welcome a baby girl into their family.  On Saturday a few friends came together to celebrate this special time and shower Diane with new-parent essentials and cute clothes and accessories for her baby girl.

We snacked on cupcakes, red velvet cheesecake mousse, fruit salad and veggie sticks while we decorated baby clothes with fabric and embroidery floss.

We provided pre-cut shapes in different fabrics and patterns for people to cut out their designs in a fabric of their choice. We used Wonder-Under on the back of the fabric so it could be ironed on to the baby clothes.

We ended the afternoon with gift opening and a round of Loaded Questions: Baby Edition.  For the game we asked everyone to answer the question, "What will the baby's first words be?"  Diane had to guess who said what.   The answers were clever, funny and sweet.

Grannie and mom-to-be with the baby outfits they decorated

We all agreed we can't wait to meet the little one, and if the love and support shown by guests at the baby shower is any indication, Diane and Stuart will not suffer for willing babysitters.