Wise woman Mira Keras recently mentioned a unique strategy she came up for dealing with situations when either she, her husband or her young daughter Gogo are angry, inevitable in any close relationship.
Read MoreMetallic Checkerboard Floors + a Trick for Visualizing Pattern Painted Floors
When we couldn’t find examples of the metallic checkerboard floors we’re smitten with, we devised a way to envision what they —and other jazzy patterns— would look like as a floor.
Read MoreIrving Penn’s Lesson in Setting Boundaries
When I worked with legendary photographer Irving Penn years ago, he gave me a tangible lesson in setting boundaries to maintain the flow of his work.
Read MoreLeonardo da Vinci’s Affirmations to Counter Failure (Including a Wild Kitchen Fiasco)
We like to open books at random to see what chunk of synchronous wisdom they might offer. Recently, we found this description of Leonardo’s wild, endearing culinary FAIL…
Read MoreBob Dylan’s Blessing
Bob Dylan’s 1970’s classic, Forever Young, is in essence a blessing, perfect words for clinking glasses in a toast this Thanksgiving Day and for celebrating a 100th birthday.
Read MoreImprovised Life’s Thanksgiving Toolkit
If you’re still wrapping your head around pulling Thanksgiving dinner together, here is our toolkit of Improvised Life’s best ideas from Thanksgivings past.
Read MoreWake UP with Jumpin Jive + the Nicholas Brothers ‘Pure Genius’ Dance
When we saw the great Cab Calloway singing Jumpin Jive, we had to check out the wild lyrics. We were doubly knocked out by the dance routine that went with it.
Read MoreEssential Recipe: Simple Roasted Pears Morph Into Dazzling Desserts
As is, roasted pears are wonderful with whipped cream, creme fraiche, or a custard sauce/creme anglaise*. But they can be the inspiration for all manner of desserts.
Read MoreRandom Surprise: Groucho’s Spiritual Practice + Pattern Synchronicity
The random surprises we find daily make us realize that there is SO much going on all around us, if we only just look…
Read MoreEdward Gorey on the Unexpected in Creative Projects + Morning Mantra
When Susan Dworski sent us this hunk of Edward Gorey brilliance, she also shared her own morning mantra.
Read MoreRocks and Stones Make Endlessly Useful Tools and Beautiful Objets
A personal compendium of the pleasures and uses for rocks and stones, with John Cage and Mary Oliver…
Read MoreFind Bargains and Illumination at Benefit Art Auctions (+ a Trove of Cool Art)
Jim Wintner’s quick primer on buying at benefit art auctions is a revelation, revealing just how much of a bargain they can be, not to mention illuminating and fun.
Read MoreThe Lost Words’ Evoke Our Wild Landscape
The remarkable The Lost Words rekindles the magic of words from the natural world that have been disappearing from our daily language. They evoke the rich landscape of wild imagination and wild play…
Read MoreAllen Ginsberg’s Meditation Instruction
During an interview with a very combative interviewer, poet/wise man Allen Ginsberg offered to show him how to meditate. His description helps our us greatly in gently calming our monkey brain.
Read MoreCourage in a Bottle and Elsewhere…
Furnace Creek Farms clever elixer seems a fine way to get a dose of courage, which we need daily these days. If you can drink it, there are other ways to be reminded of the strength within.
Read MoreAnnals of Bad Design: Bigbelly Garbage Can
When solar-powered Bigbelly garbage receptacles appeared in my nearby park, their design flaws went way beyond their clunky visuals.
Read MoreLaura Owens’ Liberating Take on Talent, Mistakes and Finding A Space of Personal Freedom
In a recent profile in the New Yorker of artist Laura Owens, we found some really liberating ideas about talent, painting and the BEST take on making mistakes we’ve seen.
Read MoreArtists and Writers on Unexpected Ways Trees Impact Us
In the strange, original About Trees, we came across BEWILDERNESS, the best word we’ve heard to describe where we live.
Read MorePumpkin Seed Sauce for Shrimp, Fish, Pork, Chips, Eggs…
While traveling in Mexico, I learned a handful of sauces whose flavors I yearn for but seem unable to find in restaurants here. Pumpkin Seed Sauce is one. It has a delicate yet earthy flavor that is delicious on just about anything.
Read MoreIdeas from Artists: Parallel Mirrors Become Infinity Windows
I sat looking at an installation by Detroit artist Maya Stovall, I realized that the mirrors she had installed might be an interesting idea to transplant into a home or work space.
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