Strawberry/Lemon Secondhand Treasure

My latest Crossroads field trip brought these two macaroon-colored beauties into my life for less than $16 combined. The bow details (tres Marie) caught my eye on the strawberry Moschino (my first) that was marked 1/2 off for $8 and I just couldn't say no to the lemon Lucky top for $6. Summer can be yummy in so many ways!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

2 X 2 Buck Chuck and a Button...

Saw this little scene in the dirt, one block off Fairfax, near Rosewood. There are so many little dramas that leave their remnants behind in the dirt/street/sidewalk, making me wonder what their story is...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Flavor of the Day is...

Strawberry/Lychee ice cream made by Scoops and served at the Golden State Cafe on Fairfax. Yes Yes Yes.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Butterfly Rest Stop

There were over 10 of these lovely orange butterflies hanging out in a small area of the Pavilion garden, motionless as if they were flowers. I want my own butterfly garden now!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

White Butterfly x 4

After marveling at all the colorful gemstones at the museum, I continued my lovefest with nature at The Pavilion of Wings and their gorgeous variety of butterflies and moths. It's a rather small exhibit size-wise, but I wasn't disappointed... except for the fact that despite my best efforts, not one lovely creature landed on me, sigh.

http://www.nhm.org/exhibitions/butterflies/

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

I'll Take That One... and that one... and that one!

Spent a perfect afternoon at the Natural History Museum (which oddly enough seems little changed since my 5th grade field trip). The Gem and Mineral Hall was so inspiring and mesmerizing... had to be pulled away.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Le Petit Mort du Snapdragon

The snapdragon's colors intensified as the flowers died in a way that made them beautiful on a whole different level. Sublime to the end.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Pretty Maids All In A Row...

Storefront of Les Habitudes, on Robertson Blvd. at night. Their fashions are so ethereal and it's the only store in my neighborhood that I always stop at and contemplate a more decadent life. Funny how my favorite places in the 'hood have a decidedly French (but not snooty) feel...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

NBC is Making a Karmic Mistake

Darling readers, you will remember my April 8 post regarding my Golden Crossroads Adventure, when I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Eddie Steeples from My Name is Earl, and learned of his concerns about their show being renewed. Well... got word they were CANCELLED yesterday. I think they are making a huge mistake (one among many if you look at their fall lineup) and I am finding less and less to watch on network tv.

This year has seen the demise of Pushing Daisies (still real sad about this) and Battlestar Galactica (love cylons/best series finale ever). Heroes was a total disappointment, and I am soo over Lost (still have 8 tivo'd episodes waiting to be watched). Ok, I'll stop whining now...

My best karmic wishes to everyone who worked on the show. They gave me lots of laughs (and a few cringes)!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Still Life with Calla Lillies and Snapdragons

A little more pink for a beautiful late afternoon... Enjoy!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Pink Snapdragon Detail

Every flower that enters my domain gets photographed as I work on creating my own immortal flower garden. I often print these out and place them in various places around the lair...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Passionfruit/Mango Mousse at Breadbar on 3rd

Happiness is this divine passionfruit/mango mousse garnished with chocolate stripes and topped with a beautifully mysterious fruit. The mousse was quickly devoured and I was so intrigued with the fruit, I took it home where it now resides perfectly preserved in my freezer. Yes, I'm strange like that.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Niles Crane in the Corner

When I saw this crane art (etsy seller Raylene), I knew I finally had something perfect for my living room corner. He now resides next to the asian seafood trap (bought 8 years ago for 75% off) that I've topped with an oversize wooden rosary I found at an animal shelter charity sale years ago. My plant Audrey (so named because she is insatiable with... water) completes the trio.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

What to do when you hear two horny cats singing...

Go outside, watch cats sing and dance and then notice how the color of the fallen berries matches the color of my toes... After about 10 min (I wasn't going anywhere!) one cat slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) slinked around the corner of the building, and was followed 2 min later by the other. Then it got real quiet. Hmmm... gotta love spring!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Sonias On The Go Go!

Got to wear my gold Sonia Rykiel's for the first time at the premier of a CSUN short film I acted in. My performance may have mostly ended up on the cutting room floor, but I looked fabulous... As I was walking to the car, the gold from my shoes, the red of my 70's era dress (that I reworked and shortened) and the green of the parking structure stairs caught my Dearest Darling's eye et voila... a picture is born!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

A Tale of Two Markets

A few Sundays ago, my sweetie-pie and I went to the Santa Monica Airport Antiques Market and found it much changed since our last visit, a couple of years ago. We were disappointed to find this place a shadow of its former self, but as we were walking away empty-handed and a bit forlorn, this groovy Indian statue kindly stood in our way and provided an artistic save to the day...

Sweetie-pie has recently rediscovered the fun of shooting with a Holga 120S and I'm loving the results!

Two weeks later, at the Beverly Hills Farmer's Market, he took this pic of me (wearing the Mexican peasant top I got at Out of the Closet!), standing in an open doorway, holding the sweetpeas I bought to sweeten up our home.

Vintage Finds + Farmers Market Sweetpeas + Holga = Perfect Moment

This new passion of his has led to the creation of a blog:

http://cheapplasticgoodness.blogspot.com/ Please check it out!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Word's Fail Me (and it's not the heat)!!!

Chloe Sevigny at Coachella via the Fug Girls

Darling readers, please know that posts are on their way (once hot brain cool down)... but as I sit here in the HEAT w/o any air conditioning (soaking my feet in ice water laced with apple cider vinegar is very refreshing), this picture made its way into my world and man... I suppose old men everywhere, who are closer to death than birth, can go to their maker in the comforting knowledge that their habit of wearing the ugliest possible socks with the ugliest possible sandals in weather that really doesn't say "MUST WEAR SOCKS!" will live on as hipsters everywhere start imitating this "muse". Wow. I want whatever that girl is smoking... as long as somebody checks my outfit before I go out the door!

Until the weather cools down... Miss Absinthe

Easter Can Be Silly and Divine

Bunnies - Prosecco - Raspberries - Pink Easter Perfection

After hiding for a few days among the lilies, this bunny took on the aroma and flavor of the flowers.

I want to flavor more marshmallow yummys this way!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Sexy Meaty Goodness at the Golden State Cafe

I've had the Golden State Cafe on Fairfax on my foodie (term used LOOSELY) radar for a couple of weeks. In one convenient location they have two foods that I have been wanting to try for year(s) but have lamely (term used STRONGLY) been unable: Let's Be Frank hotdogs and Scoops gelato. I once got to the hotdog cart and had no cash and once went there just missing it's close-time. Then about a month ago, my guy and me wanted to try Scoops after seeing a play at Sacred Fools (Forever, the Musical!) and were unable due to some street fair blocking all the streets... so we went to Whole Foods and I bought Mashti Malone icecream (tidbit for another day). Point being, I was excited and ready. Now the funny thing... last week when we tried to go (Sunday around 2ish) there was no parking, none, not for blocks on either side of Fairfax... once again I was seemingly THWARTED from hotdogs and gelato, the gods having a right good laugh at my hungry expense. So today, rightly determined, again around 2ish, the quest for more grown-up versions of my childhood favorites was made complete, for now. I was encouraged by our ability to snag a parking spot right in front of the restaurant with 20 minutes left on the meter. Was it worth the wait? Yes.

Fra Mani Italian pork sausage w/ roasted red peppers & caramelized onions

sweet potato wedges with garlic aioli

Let's Be Frank beef hotdog w/ relish & caramelized onions

jalapeno cabbage slaw

We were made to feel instantly welcome (by both the counter staff and one of the owners, Jason), which is something I do not take for granted, even though the recession seems to have brought the customer service bar up a few notches. Only minor snafu is that they were out of the chicken apple sausage my guy wanted, but being an Italian (him) I suggested the Italian sausage ;) hey I take the jokes where I can get them! I love love love hotdogs, so I went the more traditional route and got the beef hotdog. We were both pleased with what we got and hopefully the food porny shots (by him) will convey just how satisfying our meals were.

My hotdog was flavorful, had a nice bite/texture and while having hints of more "conventional" hotdogs, had a subtle difference, brighter if that makes sense. I'm not bothered by it being larger than the bun. That way I got a first bite of simple hotdog before it married with the house-made relish, caramelized onions, mustard and lightly toasted bun. Paired with the not-too-hot jalapeno cabbage slaw which utilizes their garlic aioli ever so lightly, I was able to finish it all without any feeling of heaviness. Oh yeah, I'm already thinking about the next time.

He liked his sausage (well, but not overly seasoned) w/ roasted red peppers and some of my caramelized onions, served with the sweet potato wedges, which he actually ate with the aioli served with them, a miracle since he has this mayo thing that goes back 20 years. It's good stuff. At $7 & $8, which includes tax, 2 toppings and 1 side, for food that is more ethical, local, and sustainable... everybody wins.

We then took a stroll around Fairfax where I snagged a Mexican peasant top and 2 glass bottle thingies (have a project in mind) at Out of the Closet. After making a circuit we went back to GS for a scoop of gelato to share (one way we stay thin). We chose the Salty Chocolate (girl with pms chooses!) and how good was it? It didn't last long enough for a picture. Reminded us a little of fudgecicles we ate as kids... with just the right amount of salt to make it a different take on decadent.

Definitely adding this place to my regular haunts.

Golden State Cafe

426 N. Fairfax

LA CA 90036

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Golden Crossroads Adventure

AH SONIA RYKIEL...

So my love of gold shoes seems to have no satiation point. What can I say... it's a gilded sickness! But in my glamorous defense, may I state that most of my lovely lovelies are second-hand and these are no exception. As I was exploring Crossroads Trader the other day, well first I had a semi-star sighting and lovely conversation with Eddie Steeples who plays Crabman on My Name is Earl (see even tv stars like groovy second-hand threads). He says that they won't know if the show is being renewed until sometime next month, so keep your fingers crossed and the good karma flowing! BTW he's just as cute in person... and I think he may have been a good luck omen, because as I turned away from him and saw the shoe rack, there they were: beautiful, golden, FRENCH, and my size!!! (which is rare because I wear between a 5 1/2 and 6) and oh so affordable, $30. Should I mention how comfy they are too? Forgive me, I gush.

So away I made with my golden treasure... on to my next Second-Hand Adventure!

BTW, there's a song called, Who the Hell is Sonia Rykiel? It's on a cd by Malcolm McLaren called Paris. I highly recommend checking it out. Oddly enough I was in a thrift store in New Orleans (Magazine Street!) when I heard the cd for the first time and I've had it ever since.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe