I was wandering around the big apple, following my feet back home per usual. When among the blaring car horns and people talking, the sound of a piano rose above it all. I kept walking towards a small crowd of people hovered around a man playing a green, orange, and purple painted piano. I squinted to see who was playing this divine music. Bet you can’t guess who was sitting on the stool pounding away at the keys. Yup, you got it. I heart NY boy.

Was this a mirage? No it was definitely him, I’d recognize that impish smile anywhere. As he finished his piece, he stood up and took a bow for his clapping audience. He quickly spotted me through the crowd and beckoned me to step forward.  He patted the spot next to him signaling me to sit. Here we go, I thought to myself, my musical debut! (Insert earplugs now.) Of course to my embarrassment, all I could remember was chopsticks. Yet I figured it was better then nothing, so I started to tap the keys. When people actually started to walk away, my knight in shining armor chimed in and turned my sad chopsticks into a lovely duet.

Well, he has outdone himself yet again. Once we finished, people chatted with us and offered congratulations on a great collaboration. Just call me Mozart! Then without another word, he grabbed my hand and we walked.

When spontaneous things like this happen in a massive city where everyone is constantly in a rush or stressed out, it seems like a sign saying “Whoa there self, slow down. Look around. Enjoy the moment.” So the bottom line is thank you Luke Jerram for not only helping out my rather boring love life but for adding something unique and rather mischievous to NYC.

It’s amazing how a simple thing like a piano can interrupt the daily rush and flow on a city.  It turns the pavement into a stage, city workers into entertainers and strangers into friends.

As for me, I can’t wait to tell I heart NY boy to, “Play me, I’m yours.”

I love moving from table to table, sorting through other people’s forgotten things. I’m drawn to knick-knacks, antique pictures of strangers, mismatched china, last centuries bifocals. I was rustling through a box of $2 goodies when a boy came up and started picking through the selection next to me. He was pulling out exclusively forks and spoons. I began chatting him up and discovered that he was an artist, making sculptures out of silverware. He needed three-hundred pieces. His concept was very intriguing: reusing recycled pieces to make something new. I told him I would help him in his hunt if he would send me pictures of the finished work. He enthusiastically agreed. So that was that: Sean and I spent a couple of hours searching for thrifty and interesting forks and spoons.

Throughout the process, I got all sorts of ideas of my own. I saw an old bird cage and thought about filling it with plants. WWII pin-ups could make for lovely (and cheeky) decoration. The list goes on and on. So I’m challenging you to recycle something old into something new! Let me know what you come up with!

With love and mischief,

Cherry Girl

PS I took the pictures with my NEW old Polaroid. Let me know what you think!

Hey there, Cherry Girl here. I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine and hanging outside. I decided to take it upon myself to add a little adventure to my daily routine so I ran off to NYC for a bit. Life is about the journey, right? The month of May was Bike Month, so of course I had to show off my cherry red bicycle and peddle around town with my fellow bike fanatics.

Riders were decked out in everything from professional biking attire to business suits to bikinis. But this got me thinking, what is appropriate bicycle chic? According to this cherry girl, it doesn’t matter if you are on a bike you must look S-E-X-Y at all times. Ditch those unflattering spandex shorts and put on what is cute yet comfortable. If I can rock my red patent leather pumps you can lose the padded bum pants. I mean, let’s be serious, the invention of the bike seat is painful but suck it up. Feeling lost in the world of bicycle couture? There are even websites dedicated to inspiring you for what to wear when going for a jaunt on the old bike. These sites are from all over the globe. For example, Copenhagen, London, and Los Angeles each have websites dedicated to keeping an eye on bicycle trends. http://bicyclechic.com/ Check out what people from different parts of the world are wearing in their neck of the woods.

Or one could go the rebellious route and just ride naked. Yes, naked. In fact, the annual World Naked Bike Ride is coming up on June 12^th. Will you strip down and show your stuff? Ooh la la, maybe I heart NY boy and I can make a date for such a scantily clad occasion. I can picture it now, a bicycle built for 2 in our birthday suits. Doesn’t get much better then that. Send me pictures of what you wear on your bicicletas! But don’t send pics from the naked ride, keep those puppies to yourself. Continue spreading the bike love.

Tata for now.

However, one thing about my new headquarters of employment makes me a little restless…. the mess.  No, this hedonist is in no way a clean freak but I do hate to see things go to waist.  Hundreds of napkins, plates, forks, spoons you name it all end up in the trash.

This got me thinking, what if we could eat our dishware.  I couldn’t let the thought go…. It just seems too obvious! Could you imagine your plate being part of your meal?  The thought of eating my cup after a refreshing lemonade is enough to make me salivate!

One of my favorite movies of all time is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (circa 1971). Although it sounds gluttonous, I have always hoped one day ‘The Chocolate Room’ where everything was edible would one day be a reality.  What a delectable existence!

After doing some research I found plenty of innovative projects in the works.  I found edible straws to enhance your milk drinking experience, a cookie cup, spoons made from bread and other utensils made from ginger!

The following day I put my new fixation and my baking skills to the test. Using a basic dough mix for breadsticks I made myself yummy utensils.  As a matter of fact made myself a whole months worth!  Hopefully my very understanding manager will share my passion because I used all of the flour~.

I also decided that from now on, when I leave my abode I shall bring with me my own utensils and use them as opposed to using plastic.

Just some food for thought if you will….

Until next time xoxo

Spring Cleaning Agenda:

Opened all of the windows
Gathered every rag I could find
Pulled out my lemons, tea tree oil and vinegar (I like to keep things au naturale)
Put a pot of water on to boil to clear the drains
SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB!!

Although it was exhausting work (insert long sigh here) it was worth it.  The cherry on top of my productive day was sitting down, potting my flowers and planting my seeds.  The hydrangeas filled my residence with a sensational aroma and now I also have my herbs to look forward to.

Until next time….. xoxo

On a recent visit to one of my favourite cities, I came across a tribe of filmmakers, artists, gardeners, farmers, a cross-dresser named Delores and around 30 other shiny happy people doing great things – of all places – by a bridge!

A sign by the gates of a disused plot of land by Kew Bridge is inviting: “Welcome to our Eco-Village – please come in for a cup of tea” it beckons.  How could I refuse such a charming invite?

What I found inside was pretty incredible.  Part community garden, part music and arts festival, there are constant workshops hosted by people who come and visit – not only from the local area but around the world, bands play there, seed swapping days are held where the locals are encouraged to stop by and share their ideas about what to do with the land, as well as having the chance to plant vegetables.

Their gates are always open and everyone is welcome.  Which basically means there’s never a dull moment – journalists and musicians and artists are always stopping by – some decide to move in and stay, there is definitely a Woodstock feel about the whole place and I love it!  Sipping my English tea, I chatted to Delores, who was wearing a mini-skirt that made me blush and a wig that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the 18^th Century French Royal courts!

This merry group come from all walks of life, young and old, they are a melting pot of cultures and experiences from all around the world but what brings them all together is their shared vision to create a completely ecologically sustainable community within a city.  Their motto is Ghandi’s “be the change you want to see”.

Over the last year they have built a clothes swap shop, a kitchen, library, shower, toilet and are digging a well – they plan to develop an irrigation system, using water from the River Thames, to grow their plants.  Local businesses donate wood and other building materials as well as food – nothing goes to waste here!  Cans get turned into chimneys for their tents, plastic bags get weaved into welcome mats!

This place is an oasis of calm, good vibes and has a real spirit of positivity.  As Simon one of the founders told me: “It’s about showing that you can live a simple life and be happy.”

So after eating cake like Marie Antoinette, putting the world to rights with Delores and not so subtly admiring a Polish prince with the cheekbones of a model and beautiful blue eyes you could swim in I’m starting to think the simple life seems very appealing!

The other morning started as usual, I picked up my packages and placed them in a basket that is connected to the front of my bicycle.  As I rode along, the streets began to come alive. I watched and smiled at each person I passed, secretly hoping it would provoke a chain reaction.  At this hour, the day seems to have so much potential and mystery just waiting to be unfolded.

My first delivery was a box of chocolate truffles for Ellen a seventy years young proud grandmother of two.  She was so excited about the delectable contents of the parcel that she invited me in to try some. For twenty minutes we snacked and chatted about simple pleasures.  So much delight came in such a small box. The day is shaping out well.

My next two deliveries involved smaller boxes as well as an exchange of smiles and by mid-afternoon, I was getting a xylophone lesson from Dennis, a cute-twenty-something musician.  Throughout the rest of the day I tested home-made body lotion with Wanda, had lemonade with Gladys, played a quick game of checkers with George, Jump-roped with Cindy and Suzanne and helped Sam organize his new record vinyls appropriately in his library.  I began writing my signatures on the receipts so that each recipient had something to remember me by, a simple XOXO

I tried spending as much time as I could with every parcel receiver and I had so much fun doing so.  Unfortunately, this did not suffice with the Courier powers-at-be so for now my delivery services to the world have been suspended.  But who knows what the future might bring.  A new day brings new possibilities.

With Love & Mischief

XOXO

I was searching for a valentines present for myself today and believe I may have found a new fetish if you will.  I came across something with the term Eco-Sexy in the title and this tickled many parts of me but more importantly it sparked my interest.

I held off on scoping out the product and decided to explore this phrase.  To my disappointment I did not find anything that I believe truly defines it. Maybe the term will forever retain a certain je ne sais quoi, but for now I am on a mission to figure it out and would be very pleased to hear what my fellow hedonists have to say about it.

What is Eco-Sexy?  I found inspiration in this term when I came across the Eco-Sexy Kit which will has been delivered to moi just in time for the big V-Day.

Maybe you can use it for some inspiration as well?

http://store.babeland.com/new/eco-sexy-kit

There was an exhibit at the Museum of American Art that I would have loved to have seen.

It was called A Thousand Kisses – a collection of love letters from the museum’s archives. They’ve collected love letters from all sorts of oh-so-interesting people. From Frieda Kahlo (above) to Jackson Pollock.

This started me thinking on the many ways to write a love letter, from bubbly hearts and lipstick kissed paper to the downright dirty & teasingly erotic. It also made me realize how precious and timeless love letters are… and how interesting… So for my next FOUND project… I want anybody whose interested to go on a hunt for love letters. Dig them out of your personal collection, borrow some from friends, find one at an antique store, ask your grandparents! Then scan and send them to me and I’ll put them on my blog for everybody to enjoy!

Who’s in?

With lipstick kissed paper and teasing eroticism

x

But I wish we could have that brand of positive energy year round. Why are we only supposed to make positive changes in our life for one night? Is my decision to switch up my attitude any less exciting on June 20 than January 1? And personally I find myself locking late night lips far more often than once a year!

So here’s my list… And who knows, maybe I’ll make a new one every month, just to keep life interesting.

1. Start an urban garden… Perhaps grow my mint and chives on the rooftop… or explode my window boxes with some beets and arugala.

2. Explore wilderness wonderlands. I love my urban adventures but I think it’s time for me to exit the city and dabble in things au naturale. Perhaps climb a mountain… Dive off a waterfall?

3. Gather a group of friends and organize a dinner party rotation. Allow us all to spend more time together… Share appetizers and conversation.

4. Explore all my senses. I think I too often rely on sight. I want to feel and taste and smell and listen to everything around me.

5. Read more. I get lost in the .com universe and forget how nice it is to flip pages and run my fingers across old bindings.