River Dance Bliss March 2025 yard art by (sexy! & topps!) #bliss
so much fun!! and public "Thank You!" again to our artist friend Jerry Heinrichs for the shamrock and Happy St. Patrick's Day art squares.. WE LOVE THEM! and you and sandy too, of course!
i'll be making some collages of the yard art process itself.. our 10ft tall irish dancer templates..
and how much fun to create this yard art, paper doll style.. painting the dancers bodies on the bricks, but then adding clothes/hair on top. -actually brings back wonderful creative memories..
how fun to change outfits on those paper dolls as a young girl.. loved it! and not just paper, but vinyl too.. and, felt.. -same process, different materials; all of it, fun with #fashion.
"slainte!"
conviction. a limerick for our friends at Total Wines & More, Pacific Commons, by (me!) sandra mickanen
LOVE this blouse on Joyce Meyer! me do! -sandra /your A+ student for life...
the rest of us: we don't so much layer, mix and match textures and colors and items and accessories; what we do is find singular items that are attractive all by themselves: i've been watching joyce meyer for decades -always a pretty blouse, coordinating necklace, earrings, nice pair of pants.. stylish shoes. hair, make-up, nails; always done nicely.
sometimes a singular pretty dress.. but, always very nicely and professionally put together; very attractive and flattering wardrobe. i particularly love the blouse in this picture on HER.. the color is gorgeous ON HER.. of course i'm going to love the asymmetrical neckline; and the paisley-ish style cut out design near the shoulders; the 3/4 length sleeve.. Joyce is a tv minister, yes.. first and foremost, but she is also a bit of a fashion icon for women.. You look amazing Joyce Meyer! with great consistency!
beauty for ashes... -write. Isaiah 6:13 Hallelujah & Amen
******
this also captures the way 90% women shop and dress nicely: you find a pretty blouse. do your hair, make-up, nails.. light accessories:
NO MORE WAITING 4+ HOURS, NO MORE GUESSING GAMES with open mics at city council meetings
we learned how hideous the practice is during NOTonNOBILE, and were recently, re-reminded, during another visit to san jose city council chambers
waiting a very unnecessary 4+ hours to speak for 60 seconds! council members [paid to be there; there as part of their job] drone on and on, with no limits whatsoever..
while people who have worked all day, commuted, skipped dinner, hired child care to be there, etc.
sit and wait and wait and wait and wait..
wait through repetitious BS! hour after hour guessing when they will get a chance, if ever, to speak.
speaking of repetitious, let me borrow from their tool box, and repeat here: the current culture at chambers is of the council, by the council, for the council
we have got to return to: of the people, by the people, for the people..
*****
lesson in this also: petitions are relatively quick and easy to create.. the WORK.. is getting people to sign.. -mass communicating its existence; getting people to visit and sign and forward..
"Thank You!" it is very over due, the need for a set time for open mics -everyone who has ever waited to speak at city council chambers knows KNOWS, the current practice is WRONG, AWFUL, UNJUST.. none of us see city council members willing to proactively make this change..
they toy with people who wait to speak.. they work at it; making them wait... and wait.. hoping they will give up and leave; and some do have to give up and leave.. they have families waiting! they have children to care for, to help with homework.. they have work themselves..
they don't have the luxury of guessing how many more hours it will be...
i do pray for help getting this petition signed.. more than that.. getting the actual set time for open mics into law
amen.
#fashion #hisandhers -coordinating couples fashion fun for (us!) robert & sandra
this pix is a small sample of a larger collection of matching or coordinating t-shirts my husband and i like to wear..
we enjoy doing this with the sports teams we love, family/friend/businesses we support...
for holidays, special occasions,
as souvenirs from places we visit...
and t-shirts are the most fun, popular way to coordinate -there is also, shoes, socks, hairbands, pj's, jeans/pants/shorts.. hawaiian shirts.. you name it
-sometimes we just coordinate our colors, each wearing a casual outfit for the day.. [recent post],
or, like for new years eve, -his tie, coordinated/matched my dress..
this is the kind of thing best friends like to do..
****
and coordinating/matching in general, is also fun for family reunions, for summer camps, for protests, for mother/daughter; or different family connections.. for children and their dolls..
families with their pets..
there is just something about it -a 'togetherness' fun factor.. united we stand
JOY! hallelujah & amen!
#fashion #matching #hisandhers #coordinatingcouples
Long Live me Favorite Long Dress! -sandra, topps, writeousmom #fashion #longdress
as st patricks day nears.. and, as we are currently working on our st patricks day yard art
[3 10ft tall irish dancers..] i find myself using 'me' for fun when i talk about things..
it's such an irish thing...
increases feb and march; then subsides again until the next year. with that in mind..
long live me favorite long dress! slainte!
****
women know.. long dresses come and go, trend in and out, quicker than [interactive creative non-fiction crowd sourcing here];
and that is as true for summer as it is winter..
*****
for this reason, if i go look, to double check what i'm about to share is true..
yes! this is the one and only long dress in my closet. and, even though i have a number of dresses in my closet.. a number of cute, pretty, cocktail, formal, casual dresses..
this is my personal favorite of all my dresses, short or long. and the number one reason for that is this: look at that fabric! that silky-ish, flowy, soft, beautiful fabric with such a gorgeous flower pattern design! and i crazy love the color palette! the black background, with the tan, beige, silver; the detailed lining of the flowers.. it all blends into something so beautiful to me... there's something that works about the size of the flowers and design.. like, i'm only guessing, but i don't think if it had lots of large flowers, or medium flowers, that i would be as drawn to it..
and even though it has this darker color palette, because the fabric is thin and light.. i've worn it by day and by night. i've worn it for formal occasion and casual occasion..
it does come with a separate spaghetti strap black lining slip that sits underneath. love that also! use it as a slip for other dresses too
anyway, it is my current plan to keep this dress forever.. because i LOVE the fabric, and because long dresses trend out.. i have considered having lesa transform it into something else.. just a skirt? just a blouse.. and create 2 separate pieces...
but exactly because long dresses will without any doubt, trend back in..
and i love it as it is so very much. it will remain as is..
and, -as we love to do for many occasions -my husband and i enjoy color coordinating..
for that reason, the pix of us together at the top, is a treasure to me. xoxo
#magicofmacys
#fashion
#longdress
****
the vest was a hand-me-down from my best mom ever... love that too! "Thank You!"
****
hallelujah! thank you Jesus! -fashion designers, macys, mom -and amen
#fashion #fancynancy #someonepleasecontactafashionmagazineeditoralready! by (me!) sandra
as previously mentioned, i am going to overcompensate this 20th year for not having blogged much about fashion for 19 years..
and i cannot write about fashion without shining a brighter light on the most fashion-creative person i know.. have ever known!
these few... just these few pictures, demonstrate, but do not come close to capturing the 365 days of fancy nancy fashions each year..
the question i'd say she gets asked the most from us, her group of friends..
"is there any color you don't look great in?"
then, not so many questions really, just comments, compliments..
"you look beautiful!" "that is so pretty on you!" "i love that... and this... and how you put those together!"
it is also worth repeating what sets fancy nancy apart from... all the rest of us.
all the rest of us, -we can look fashionable.. we can wear a pretty top, or find a beautiful dress, or add some jewelry, embellishments, get our nails and hair done professionally..
what sets fancy nancy apart is that she so creatively LAYERS... tops, blouses, appliques, scarves, belts, skirts, tights, shoes/boots, short sleeve, long sleeve, textures, colors, fabrics, hair accessories, PLUS fancy nails.. jewelry, etc.
i really do, relate to her creative fashion combinations.. i see her as getting dressed in the morning, the same way i create something from my studio 213..
my studio has fabric paints, bows, empty bottles, ribbon, strings, paper punches, pens, paintbrushes, random found objects, bottle caps, stencils.. long list
but when i go to make a mixed media art piece.. with no pre-planning, i just grab this from over there, and that from over here.. and start creating..
the process is a joy! and i am usually, more often than not, very pleased with the result..
from our conversations, i have learned this is true for fancy nancy too: she doesn't necessarily pre-plan.. but when she gets ready, she already has acquired a variety of 'found objects' so to speak, and she grabs this blouse, and layers that with this.. and adds these tights, and uses this belt, and this hair accessory.. and then a vest...
and somehow, the magical, improv combination of clothes and accessories is its own masterpiece..
and looks amazing..
she will create with an occasion as the inspiration: halloween, st patricks.. and love how, for the most recent super bowl party, she wore the colors of both teams, -some red and green..
and the same joy i experience when -watching jackie bernardi, and seeing her creations on canvases..
the same joy! i experience when seeing the result of my own creative mixed media projects..
i experience that joy when i look at fancy nancy's mixed media fashion creations!
i'm just waiting for her to be recognized, celebrated by an official fashion magazine editor...
if anyone should be... -write.
and i do know zara is one of her favorite stores... so maybe, let's contact them, shall we..
*****
i love fancy nancy, her creative fashions, and the whole george family..
huge blessing in our lives! hallelujah, thank you Jesus & amen
#fancynancy
#fashion
#vellumdays in progress..
public "Thank You!" to Daisy & Kansen Chu for inviting and treating us to Woven Stories 2025. Exceptional Performances! one after another... honestly. I found myself saying, thinking, or whispering the word WOW over and over... and i was engaged throughout.. but i have always had an eye for people who respond to music.. and every dancer does, yes.. of course, goes without saying, but there was a young dance prodigy near the end of this production, and he not only responded, interpreted the music, as a whole.. he could feel, interpret, express every note! i was mesmerized.. a blessing to be in the audience; to witness all these talented people utilizing and sharing their God given gifts... at master levels "Thank You!"
p.s. "Thank You!" Daisy for the beautiful red Chinese-fashion top you gifted me to wear, and Fancy Nancy for sharing her red boots!
*****
and, who doesnt repeat themselves; -write. my husband and i repeat with great frequency, how grateful we are to have met and become friends with the Wilsons, Awesome Elva, Talented Tom.. who just treated us to lunch for my bady, (which i am very happy to stretch out...) -and we met them as a direct result of the NOTonNOBLE protest -as in, we would not have met them, maybe ever.. without this protest
so, my Christian interpretation, -what the devil meant for harm, God used for our good and blessed us in mighty ways; we not only got the VICTORY for NOTonNOBILE, but we made life-long friends with a really awesome couple! "Thank You!"
p.s. Awesome Elva, -part of a strong woman trifecta, who have recently created and launched a new neighborhood association: Beautify Berryessa -and they just had their first meeting, which was very well attended! by people in our neighborhood AND city, state leaders... gives us hope! People who have lived here for decades, especially, have been eye witness to a slow (and sometimes fast) decline in regard to blight, loitering, criminal activity
Beautify Berryessa is putting the brakes on the decline; and leading us back in the beautiful, well kept and safe direction... one of their (our) focuses (among many) is the Safeway area of Berryessa Corners.. corner of Berryessa & Capitol -this has been on the decline since i moved here, 7 years ago.. and in fact, sends many of us to shop at other stores in other areas of San Jose, or other cities.. Milpitas.. Fremont..
so, "Thank You!" to Elva, Valerie & the one who initiated this new neighborhood association; Natalie! I do not have a pix from this meeting, but i regard it a #vellumday!
I love to use my imagination to envision what this Berryessa Corners Plaza could (will) look like, with the retaining walls repaired; the landscaping -landscaped; a newly paved parking lot, removal of all grafitti; new, modern signs, a pressure washed sidewalk, absence of panhandlers, on and on, etc.
the plaza directly across the street, Berryessa Hills, has one side that has been beautified! and what an enormous difference! just driving by.. let alone shopping there... a fresh coat of paint, clean newly paved parking lot; new signs... elevates the entire area! We don't guess what it will look (and feel) like once Berryessa Corner's is beautified, we get to see first hand... write across the street!
****
and i don't have a picture from our most recent visit, -but another highlight in my #vellumdays, my friendship visits over coffee with my life long BMF/FLF's of several decades now.. Catherine & Carla. "Thank You!" I do always, consistently feel God's presence.. over our visits, our conversations.. our friendship; our lives.. our families. - so wonderful to get together in person; share the ups, downs, challenges, rewards of life with friends.. progress reports.. and we have a long shared history each conversation is built upon.. so, it makes it easy.. i love them -watching their families grow. our (adult) children, all around the same age.. give or take, and we've known them from birth, or pre-school.. [pix from wedding] We are proud mom's!
*****
and, also, will add a picture from archives, because i don't have one from our recent dinner with karl & valerie ball -another couple we love! and are very blessed to have as part of our core group of friends
-and, WOW, to the dinner valerie prepared! -but even before that.. a wonderful charcuterie, [uncured peppered genoa salami/sharp cheddar/crackers...] some delicious wines.. and then, one of our new favorite... "can we please have the recipe!" dinners, called
bang, bang salmon -served with a crazy good spicy sauce, rice, asparagus.. and, my husband, he is the master cook.. and he could not say enough wonderful things about this dinner.. "encore! encore! and thank you!" -and we loved visiting, and we watched a portion of a movie, i watched, many, many years ago called, 'what the bleep do we know' -this is fun, because.. karl, physicist mind.. karl/valerie with scientific backgrounds.. and robert and i, Christians.. and everyone bringing their unique understanding to the conversation.. also, CH for me.. so i dropped off my writings to share with them.. my
poet & the physicist poem, and
my writings about thoughts.. how they mimic the water cycle; change form, based on temperature.. gather together, create brain-storms.. -wonderful evening! cherished friends
****
and before we even arrived at karl and valeries, earlier that day, we landed at the write place, at the write time! to be spontaneously treated to a most wonderful wine tasting at total wines and more at pacific commons in fremont. DE-LIGHT-FUL! host.. very knowledgeable, lots of personality, hospitality, fun with his service.. and service with some accents; some irish brogue.. and after enjoying that experience, we stocked up for our upcoming annual st patricks dinner party... and the staff at total wines.. stellar! /believe i owe a gentleman named chris an irish lemrick -not sure my humor translated the way i hoped, but i did share how i know i must be part irish because i love to write poetry and drink beer.. but i can't be 100% irish because my arms most definitely do not stay straight when i'm dancing.. my genetics report/dna.. a good 67% motown
****
add in, for #vellumdays, how robert and i were working on the yard art, and that creates all kinds of wonderful opportunities for neighbors to visit.. so, we ended up with several chairs in the driveway, some water, beer, snacks.. and had our neighbor friends spontaneously take a seat and join the conversation.. richard, gopi, shakti, tim, -robert and i.. with some shorter visits by passersby..
and i want you to know.. we solved many of the world's problems! as a team... that's what we do..
in fact, i think the world might just run out of problems if our group from the driveway were able to run things..
and, thank here shakti, -because he wanted to contribute to our yard art.. we've had several neighbor friends who will jump in.. to help, and because it's fun
so, shakti, a little nervous because he's not an artist.. well, -maybe he wasnt one; but he is now! -because he contributed by painting foil for the brunette irish dancer. -this is pure fun, as far as i'm concerned; you can't get it wrong.. you just paint foil, then take different hues of brown, and spill them on a brown background.. swirl it all around.. add some sparkle.. -done. then the foil gets cut into imaginary strands of hair to create a mixed media wig of sorts.. "Thank You!" for your contribution -turned out great!
*****
the point i'm trying make, lesson to teach, with #vellumdays -is how just normal every day days.. are very special; and when you pay attention to how they accumulate.. ='s gratitude and appreciation
keeps us awake to our blessings.. i'm sure there is more, i'm forgetting write now..
it's a blessed season in our lives.. amazing grace..
all of it is hallelujah! thank you Jesus & Amen...
the irony of our cultures benevolence & results of our non-stop giving, by sandra mickanen
so much benevolence! everywhere.. every person... every corporation.. on line, in stores.. at concerts..
i cannot seem to order from amazon, or etsy, or online in general, anything that arrives to me without a note from the manufacturer/designer/company saying something like this:
Thank You, a % [variable] of your purchase has been donated to [variable/cause].
and, i cannot seem to make a purchase at any brick n' mortar store, from a coffee shop to a grocery store to a gift store to a book store -where i am not provided the opportunity to give..
to 'round up' at the register, or just press a button to give a pre-determined amount
$5, $15, $50..
-sometimes, one item i've purchased might have multiple sources of generosity tied to it..
the manufacturer donates some of the profits, the designer.. and then the store that is selling it..
I imagine God is very pleased to see all this generosity! all this cheerful giving.. [2 Corinthians 9:7].
/no one giving reluctantly, or under compulsion.. no one with ulterior motives..
-remember the greatest generation? do we now have the most altruistic one?
***
anyway, i worked in retail for several decades.. worked for a few different 'family owned' businesses, and i came to re-appreciate just how generous, how valuable paying customers are..
period.
for any small business to stay in business, you need... customers. paying customers.
so, when you visit ANY LOCAL BUSINESS and shop.. even if you just buy one small thing; you are already giving in enormous ways!! you are helping that business stay in business; you are helping their employees remain employed..
ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL! that is great giving!
and these days..
if it is the only giving you do: shop locally here and there.. eat at a restaurant here and there.. buy a book at a book shop, buy a candle at a gift shop, buy some food at the local grocery..
and you click no, or skip, when being asked to give even more and more and more and more and more
.. don't feel bad for even one half of one second! because your regular over-priced purchases are already giving to even more causes.. built-in benevolence, let's call it..
you can be more generous than you've ever been before without even trying!
but i do wonder; like, what would the price of items return to if we eliminated all the attached donations, for charities determined by someone else, and each customer returned to doing their own choosing about when and how much to give to who for what reasons..
-you know.
the irony is, while our giving is greater than ever! we lack tangible, experiential results.
i'm really.. i don't know.. i guess i'm just waiting for something like..
Thank You, our needs have been met; we are now self-sufficient -couldn't have done it without your help!
Thank You, we found the cure. Thank You, we met our goal. Thank You, our dream of purchasing [variable] to accomplish [variable] came true!
guess i'd just like to see.. some entity graduate from needing to no longer asking..
i have a wild imagination.
but, i have been in the company of people.. and watched them kind of struggle internally..
so many people living pay check to pay check, (or, as i did in my past.. cash advance to cash advance), and you stare at the register which is asking you to donate to a different cause..
and you purchase an over priced item with a price tag/profit margin that includes giving to 3 other causes..
fascinating system.
so, i just like to remind people.. just your mandatory, everyday, barely get by shopping...
is giving A LOT; is keeping businesses open; is keeping people employed.
It is already more than enough.
"THANK YOU!"
****
repeating here, that my husband and i, we regard every dollar we spend at a restaurant, a gift store, the grocery store.. it is all tithing; not just what we give at church.
i believe that whole heartedly: all shopping, all local spending is tithing to your community..
and we also regard everything we do, as a thank you prayer.. when we host a gathering, we are saying "thank you" for the people, their company, friendship; -when we take a walk, or hike, or bike ride, it is a thank you we are mobile, thank you for the landscape, the trail, the wildlife.. the fresh air..
when we clean our house, our car.. all thank you fors..
on and on etc. everything is tithing and gratitude.. this is our practice.
hallelujah & amen.
back to #fashion, let's talk pockets & jackets love -sandra
still february, so let me fit my winter jacket pockets thank you and request to designers:
i love both jackets, in both pictures above. LOVE! -and, magic of macys, of course..
i default to the one on the left, with the 3 buttons going vertical down the front for the primary reason that I LOVE THE POCKETS!
i can place my hands, -naturally, in both pockets for warmth.. to relax.. to grab a kleenex, or some chapstick or change..
the placement, the angle, the depth, the lining.. wait; not lining, but
placement, angle, depth, all perfect for a very comfortable, natural, hands-in-pockets fit and experience.
the lining, inside one of the pockets had to be repaired.. i did purchase it 'clearance' [last act] and the lining in one pocket had a hole in it.. -easy fix. "thank you lesa!"
but strong lining.. -because people sometimes place their keys, pens..
strong lining in the pockets is always a plus.
****
i LOVE the jacket on the write too.. the fabric, the look, the fit, the feel.. i love everything
except for the pockets, which i realize, are just there for looks, for the design.. and not for actual use. but! if this jacket also had utilitarian pockets.. i'd wear it much more often.
****
hallelujah & amen
President Trump.. Regarding Tips & Audits... from your favorite issue based not party based usa citizen
Yes.. excellent to read,
cut taxes on tips and "
who relies on tipped income, your tips will be 100% yours." but,
per my prior post,
FIRST we need to make sure the tips go to the servers -MY EXPERIENCE WAS 100% went to business/restaurant owners.. On to audits then.. here in our neck of the redwoods, san jose/santa clara county, california.. they did some audits.. result: DATA DESERT.. no one knows where the money went.. and, so, what's being done about that?
it's not the audit.. it's what is being done with what the audit reveals.. what corrections? who is held accountable?
-we've watched millions, over decades, go toward 'solving homelessness' 'helping our most vulnerable' -the problem has only exponentially grown, and the money has dis-a-frickin'-peared!
President Trump.. About that no tax on tips promise.. vital you also share this:
most people believe, that when they give a tip, it is going to the person they hand it to; the person who served them; sad how often this is not the case.
during the time i worked at:
RUBY HILL WINERY, Pleasanton, CA -ALL TIPS, for all servers, GO IN ONE JAR..
the owner, Mike Callahan, at the time i was working, would throw a party for the employees once a year, and that's what the tips were used for. if you could attend, enjoy; if you could not, oh well.
despite sometimes personally, individually hosting large private groups for over an hour, pouring, educating, serving with a smile... despite guests being very pleased with my hosting, and folding large bills, and tucking them into the palm of my hand with a sincere "thank you!" -if i kept that tip, i was stealing; it had to go in the common, one jar, for the annual party.
AMELIA'S DELI & BISTRO -ALL credit card TIPS were kept and collected by the owner(s)..
same thing; all CC tips went in ONE FUND [totals never shared with staff] for an 'annual employee appreciation party' -IF YOU got to attend, enjoy; if you could not, oh well... cash tips divided between servers, cooks, bussers
COURTYARD MARRIOT -is where i learned that there is NO CORRELATION between SERVICE and TIPPING. People have a mindset before they arrive; some are tippers, some are not.
lift no bags, offer no help.. someone might still tip you
allow for early check-in, carry 5 heavy bags upstairs.. no tip.
but we did get to keep our tips, and i worked with a super cool crew, so we were happy to divvy it up when appropriate... true experiences archived here
****
based on my experiences, i really started asking around.. for many hair/nail salons, for many restaurants, wineries, etc. it was the case that the person doing the serving was not allowed to keep their tip; it went to an individual fund (total amounts never shared with staff); and they throw 'an annual appreciation party'.
****
i am in the habit now, of asking about tip policies before i tip..
we are generous tippers, for the most part, my husband and i..
and we would be delighted to know; to see, these tips A.) go to the person providing the service and B) be tax free.
we so want to see our hospitality providers, servers, valet, bellhops.. hourly wage earners, contributing so much to the quality of our experiences at coffee shops, restaurants, hotels..
we want to see them supported! rewarded! appreciated! valued!
i find myself quoting (paraphrasing) my aunt tina very often, "if you serve in a restaurant for just 3 months you'll be a big tipper for the rest of your life."
"Thank You!" hallelujah & amen
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