Fun

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The Detroit Institute of Arts – a Spring Break Visit

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In front of a Diego Rivera mural.

We finally made it to the Detroit Institute of Arts (aka the DIA), the museum that was in the news the last couple of years in regards to Detroit’s bankruptcy filing. In the summer of 2013 it was thought that creditors might force the DIA to sell some of its collection (appraised up to $867 million). Luckily, the DIA made a deal with the city, committing to raise $100 million over the course of 20 years, saving them from having to break up its collection.

But on with our story. One snowy Spring Break morning (ahhh!), we bundled up and headed downtown.

IMG_0269 (920x1024)We were there during the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo special exhibit, which was pretty cool. We zipped through it pretty quickly, though, because our littlest was having a snack meltdown (I want to ride the elevator! Can we go now?! When can we ride the elevator? Etc).

I am actually not a huge fan of their work (except for Diego’s murals), but seeing the exhibit was inspiring, nonetheless, and it made me want to draw again (as a kid and young adult I used to enjoy sketching and painting. Once I hit my 30s I kind of stopped).

Here are some of the pieces we saw…

Can’t remember if this was there, specifically. But there were child portraits.

The preparatory drawings for the murals were my favorite.

After a small snack, we rode on the elevator, played some I-Spy in the European decorative arts gallery (there are several I-Spy questions and clues scattered throughout the museum), walked through the Dutch gallery, rode on the elevator again (surprise) and had lunch in the Kresge Court (a cool cafe that sits under a glass roof).

The cafe. We sat in the wiry white chairs. Image from Curbed Detroit

That afternoon the girls and I worked on drawings inspired by the Diego/Frida exhibit.

IMG_0278 (768x1024)The girls seemed genuinely excited about the project (and it kept them busy!) and it was really fun for me, too.

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Mom’s Winter Coat

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In our backyard with Sam.

My mom bought this coat in 1971 or 1972 (although she thinks it was probably the former). She, my Dad and my sister were living in Germany at the time (I wasn’t born yet) and were visiting relatives in upstate New York. One day my cousin Kathy suggested a shopping trip. Perhaps there was mention of winter sales, the details are sketchy.

CoatInsideMom didn’t remember at which store she purchased the coat, but the tag tells us: Sears, Roebuck and Co.  The label also reads, “Sears Jr. Bazaar” which means it was part of the store’s junior line. My mom was in her late 20s or early 30s, so that totally makes sense. Plus, she’s 4′ 11″ and I’m not sure how many stores back then had great petite selections.

The top of the label reads, “clean by furrier method only.” An online search gave me somewhat confusing and vague results, but it appears that this phrase indicated not only how to clean the item (a type of dry cleaning, or perhaps simply dry cleaning), but also that the item was made of faux fur.

CoatCloseWhen I brought the coat home from our to Hawaii last February, it was in a sad state. The lining was fading and had separated from the main part of the coat, the pockets were ripped, the cuffs on the sleeves were starting to fall apart and the suede was getting spotty (I’m assuming due to the humidity).

I had the coat repaired by a local seamstress in San Francisco (she did a great job) and after a wipe-down by me, most of the spotting was gone or barely noticeable. It still looks rough around the edges, but it fits me perfectly and is fun to wear. I feel a little self-conscious wearing it around town because I prefer to go unnoticed. But I hate thinking about the coat sitting in the closet ’til my girls are big enough to wear it, so I’m going to try and put it on more often.

 

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The January List

IMG_96801)  The week my husband went out of town, it snowed. And snowed. I shoveled three times and I have to admit, I kind of enjoyed it. Don’t even try to “just you wait” me. I get that six weeks from now when it’s below 10 out and there’s a driveway piled two feet deep of dirty, heavy snow, I will hate it. Might hate it. But I don’t hate it yet. Nah-na-na-boo-boo.

2)  You know you’re getting old when your three-year-old beats you at a matching game (aka memory game) and you were actually trying to win (we’re competitive up in this house).

IMG_9368 (993x1024)3)  Is it just me, or do the freaking Christmas lights never fit back in the box? Mine always end up looking like this (and that’s one of the better ones). Why don’t I just do away with the boxes all together, you ask? Couldn’t tell you.

Speaking of Christmas lights… it’s the beginning of February, people. The baby Jesus wants to go home. Shut ‘er down.

IMG_9705 (1024x1024)4) Checked out the Detroit Auto Show with some friends. I haven’t been to a car show since junior high, when my Uncle used to take me. I love anything shiny and sparkly, so I enjoyed the whole showy-ness of the whole thing.

The driverless Mercedes car was very cool and they’re supposed to be ultra-safe (I heard an NPR segment), but….not sure I’d be able to fully relax. The concept does seem rather nice, though, no?

IMG_96845)  Our sweet, sweet boy Sammy turned nine this month. How can you not love this face?

6)  When ordering pizza in Grosse Pointe, make sure to ask if they use fresh mushrooms or canned ones. Who even uses those? I don’t think I saw a canned mushroom my entire time in San Francisco. I’d actually forgotten about their existence until I lifted the lid on my pizza box. I’m not sure which word best describes my reaction. Disgust. Horror. Shame. Ick.

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corwall7)  I took a knife skills class at Cornwall Bakery, a new spot in Grosse Pointe Park. I was the only person who came solo, so I felt out of place at the get-go.

It was their first-ever class, so they still have kinks to work out (like timing. I had to leave before the fajitas were done), but the instructor was super nice and I did learn how to hold a knife properly (although my wrist! And my long, creepy fingers. Gah). I wish I’d learned more about knives and the actual act of cutting vs. how to julienne a carrot properly, for example, but I’m glad I went.

8)  AND! Oh my gosh I am just remembering because of this photo. One of the girls brought a bottle of wine and only shared it among her little group (there were eight of us in the class, five in her group). When that went down I was tsk-ing inside my head. San Franciscans do not roll like that. You bring wine, you bring wine for everybody, capiche?

IMG_96229) I love how the lake changes every day in winter. I’ll see beautiful shards of ice sticking out of the lake one day, and the next day they’re gone. Such a contradiction to the other parts of nature. While everything else is quiet and bare, the lake is very much alive. Pretty cool.

IMG_9446 (1024x1024)10)  I love a fireplace. In San Francisco we had a faux fireplace (it had been covered up, but the facade was still there). We kept talking about opening it up and bringing it to life again, but it never happened.

I love coming downstairs in the morning (okay, not really, because my brain is in a fog of sleepiness and one or both of the kids are trying to tell me something and the dog wants to eat and I have to figure out what to pack for lunch…but I digress)…and turning on the fireplace and keeping the kitchen lights dim while I make my espresso. It’s all very picturesque. Until the girls start fighting over who gets the turtle plate. Wah-wah.

IMG_9583 (944x1024)11)  Since I haven’t been able to find a restaurant here to satisfy my Thai cravings, I have decided to take matters into my own hands. Literally. My sorority sis recommended this book, which I bought a couple weeks ago. I’ve always been intimidated by Thai cooking (the ingredients!), but desperate times call for desperate measures. Now where in the world am I going to find birds eye chilies?

12)  I popped into Josef’s bakery the other day for a dry cappuchino and almond croissant (which they were out of. Had a chocolate-almond croissant instead. Not a good substitute). I started chatting it up with two older ladies (long story. someone dropped a spoon). They both thought I was 20-ish. Twen. Tee. I suppose that’s one good thing about being the only Asian in town?

 

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The December List

IMG_92301)  Teepees make me want to be a kid again (the girls got one for Christmas from my mom).

2)  School pick-up line in this order: Ford, Pontiac, Yukon, Jeep, Dodge, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover, Yukon, Ford and….Honda CRV (me).

IMG_9195 (1024x1024)3)  Went to the new Corktown restaurant Gold Cash Gold (they kept the name of the pawnshop that used to occupy the space) during its debut week. The frites (with pickle mayo) were to die for and my grilled cheese sandwich was scrumptious. Another win for Detroit.

4)  You know you did not spend last winter in Grosse Pointe when you are praying to God every night to please make it snow (alas, no white Christmas for us).

5)  I’m not sure what possessed me to try the sushi at both Trader Joe’s and Kroger (grocery store kinda like a Safeway). I don’t need to tell you that all but one bite of each ended up in the trash bin.

momjeans6)  I opened my new H&M catalog and could not believe my eyes when I read the words “Mom jeans.” Ladies, raise your hands if you want to look like you have a droopy butt and huge thighs.

7)  Michigan, you are killing me with the tailgating. The latest: school bus (full of kids) honking at me and trying to pass me on the shoulder in a 25-mile zone. Craziness.

IMG_9216 (768x1024)8)  We had carolers! Two gals from Grosse Pointe North who were not only so sweet, but also really good singers. Love, love, love. Not once did we get carolers in San Francisco.

9)  Winter makes me want to stay inside all day with a hot bowl of chili with loads of cheese and sour cream on top. And wine. And cookies. And Baileys on the rocks. Mmmmm.

10)  Hot flashes are no joke. I don’t know if it’s the medication I’m taking (side effect is hot flashes, go figure) or my age (nooooo), but whoa.  I usually run cold, so it’s very weird for me, this sensation of feeling overheated. It actually works in my favor, now that it’s winter, but I’m worried how well I’ll fare come summer.

11)  Speaking of summer, maybe I should not be eating that sour cream or those cookies or drinking that Baileys on the rocks. Curses.

IMG_9171 (1024x1024)12)  A visit to Benjamin Moore always lifts my spirits (I mean, how can you not smile when you walk into a shop and see these guys). I stopped by with a few holiday treats and to say thanks for all their help over the last several months. Until next time!

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Piano Duets with My Sister

My sister and I both took piano as kids. Each year our studio would have a big Christmas concert, with several holiday numbers followed by the Nutcracker Suite. I was never chosen to play in the Nutcracker (my sister was – she’s a lot better than me), but I always wanted to. A few years ago I bought the music (The Nutcracker Suite, Op 7, Piano Four Hands by Tchaikovsky) with the intention of someday playing some of the songs with her.

We finally learned a few pieces this year – practicing separately, of course (she’s in Hawaii and I’m here). When we played together for the first time, it actually sounded pretty good, considering!

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a whole lot of time to play while she was here and even more unfortunately, we only decided to video tape the numbers at the end of her trip, and my phone ran out of room and anyway, these two clips are all I have (Sleigh Ride obviously not part of the Nutracker. We used to play it in high school).

A little out of sync and fuzzy at times, but it was sooooo much fun. We told each other that every year we would learn one song (from the Nutcracker) so that eventually we could play the whole thing together. Three down, five to go (we also learned the Arab Dance and the Chinese Dance, but I have zero footage of those).

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Me on the right.

Here’s to sisters. And here’s to playing the Nutcracker Suite in 2019!

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To Reupholster or Not to Reupholster? That is the Headache.

IMG_8517 (800x600)So after posting my September list, stating my couch vs. rug dilemma, I decided to ask for help from my Facebook friends. Should I cover the couch (and if so, what color) or get a new rug? The response was overwhelming. I’d say it was 60/40, with the majority loving the rug, thus in favor of reupholstering the couch.

Some responses:

Mariana: “Right away I felt something is not right and it’s the zebra rug.” (she pasted a link to Restoration Hardware’s rugs. Gorgeous, obviously. But pricey. Eek.)

Marisa: “Warning: our cream sofa with two kids and two dogs? Destroyed. I love the rug. And the couch.” (She included a link of her dream couch: blue velvet. sigh And back to reality.)

Anna: “Keep the zebra rug, cover couch with cranberry red, accent with pillows and add a dark wood coffee table.” (Unbeknownst to Anna, the previous owners of the couch paired it with a cranberry rug. Indeed. AND they had pink wingbacks! As you can see below.)

homes.cloverlylivingSusan: “I like the chocolate velvet option and then you can keep it more casual/fun with cute pillows!”

Veronica: “Call me crazy but I love the floral couch. I like things that are different and light and bright :)” (she pasted a link called Not Your Grandma’s Floral Sofa. )

Titus: ” I will go with Mariana. The zebra rug looks out of place. Everything in the room (including the architecture/windows) looks “traditional” so replacing the zebra rug with something more traditional/understated would really pull the room together for not very much money at all.”

Lynn: “If you recover the couch, I would think something with a texture or tone on tone would be nice. What I like about the rug is it is unexpected.” (I had already been to Calico Corners, an upholstery shop in town, and picked up a few chocolate samples, several with some texture for interest.)

IMG_8270 (480x640) IMG_8271 (480x640)There were tons of great comments, opinions and suggestions (and thank you again, everyone!). But now, I was more confused than ever. Deep down, I wanted to keep the rug. It’s exciting, unexpected and fun. But the couch is lovely and goes so well with the painting and two sets of pink chairs. And… we bought it for $800. Not retail, but not cheap. The quote I got for recovering the couch – a whopping $1800. Gulp. And that does not include the two “accent pillows.” You mean the arm rests? “Well, they aren’t technically part of the couch, so those would be a separate charge.” Ummm, okay.

I decided to mull it over. During my mulling over, I got an email from my sister-in-law, with a link to the website of her friend, Anna, who does interior design work. I clicked. I saw. I wanted. And I did what I said I would never do. I hired a designer.  My head was spinning and how could I say no to someone who loves sheepskin as much as I do?

Photo credit: Anna Versaci Design

Photo Credit: Anna Versaci Design

A few days later, she came right over. She listened to my ideas and threw in several of her own. Curtains (we wanted, but she’s suggesting them for two windows only), a gallery wall (which I wanted and the husband did not, even though he didn’t say it exactly. Thank you!), some great lighting (we have no ceiling light), tables, a better furniture arrangement, and oh yeah……she wants to keep the couch.

So oh my gosh you guys, against my deep down wishes (sort of), it looks like the couch is staying. I trust her vision, and honestly, the rug is going to look so amazing in our youngest daughter’s room, which, coincidentally, has a zebra theme. And a sheepskin rug, of course.