dreaming of the eiffel tower

4 / 1 / 14

I had the most wonderful dream last night. I was in Paris celebrating the 125th birthday of the Eiffel Tower. Problem. The Eiffel Tower was actually “born” on March 31, 1889. This morning I awakened to the realization that it was April 1st. Could it be that my invitation had gotten lost in the mail? Please say it isn’t so! An April Fools joke perhaps? Oh – I think not. It was just too real.

“…We welcomed the sunrise seated at little bistro tables nestled under the Eiffel Tower with champagne and French pastries. I wore my delicate little pink dress and my favorite pink shoes that I meticulously packed in a tiny pink suitcase. (After all, we were just there for the day, Silly!)

~~It being a dream~~, I spoke in soft whispers (wink, wink), my French fluent and flawless. There was beaucoup de célébrer (much celebrating), laughter and beautiful music everywhere. As evening descended upon us, we toasted from the top of the Eiffel Tower as the sun melted into darkness. The Tower, ablaze with tiny white twinkle lights…”

As for a birthday present; well, I did not forget about you, my friends! I brought you back an incredible gift that I know you will absolutely LOVE! An exciting and interactive 360 panorama of Paris and the Eiffel Tower (in high definition). “Breathtaking details and amazing views” (Eiffel tower website). The Eiffel Tower from above, below, at sunset, over the city of Paris, identifying famous landmarks… Honestly – it really is pretty amazing. Click on the link above (where it says “360”) and enjoy the sights and sounds of Paris (Yes – There is even music!) Ooo La La – Enjoy!!

Ok – So I need to put this dream behind me and deal with reality. I’m starting to sound like the little boy on “The Polar Express”. I just feel so distracted. Hmmm… Now where in the heck did I leave my favorite pink shoes…

little moments in time

8 / 31 / 13

Some days are precisely planned out; to the last minute and in exact detail. You make lists and plans, you prioritize and alter, you tweak and re-do. And then there are the moments in time that just happen…

We woke up this morning and the hubbie suggested that we go out to breakfast. I like that. So we did. “Urban Table”. He knows I love it cause it’s all Frenchy, Shabby Chic décor… LOVE! And they serve yummies like mini waffles with dark chocolate lavender syrup…?! What…??? I know – Right? We lingered long over coffee, in a wonderful, lazy, Saturday morning kinda way. And then we started driving, rather aimlessly, around town. Now those of you who know me well realize that I have a tendency to get a bit, well, antsy… after being in a car for any length of time. And by “any length of time“, I basically mean anything more than, say… 30 minutes? Yes. I’m serious. But today was different. It was a beautiful morning, the sun was out and we were in “Little Red”; the hubbies 1988 convertible. Almost by accident, really, we ended up in Old Overland Park, and realized that it was Saturday… Yay! The Farmer’s Market!! So we walked and shopped and perused the market. Fresh fruit and veggies, gorgeous flowers, homemade blackberry jam (Yes; thank you! My fav!), farm fresh eggs, buttercream cupcakes (luckily too full from breakfast!), fire roasted corn-on-the-cob, apple pie and peaches, hand-crafted soaps, local wild mushrooms… even bought wine from a local winery!!

Yep; No planning. No lists. Just a morning filled with little special moments, tiny snipits of time… “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” Dr. Seuss

Live happy, friends…

happy new year!!

1 / 1 / 13

Notes: The simplest way to wish someone a happy new year in French is with Bonne année !, but Bonne année et bonne santé is a classic expression. In English, we say “happy new year,” but the “new” is unnecessary in French – bonne année does the whole job. The addition of bonne santé (good health) is not only a nice thought, but it also rhymes, making a little sing-songy sort of phrase.
**Interestingly, kissing under the mistletoe is a New Year’s custom in France, rather than a Christmas custom as in other countries. Hmmm… I’m thinking – How about BOTH?!

And now, for a few more random New Year’s Day thoughts and musings…

How about a Daily Affirmation (from “Jessica”). For such a young girl, she has much to teach us, I think. A great way to start each day of the new year…! And then there is that “all too familiar” New Year’s resolution – I’m gonna work out… again… more… every other Tuesday…. once…???

Decision. This year, rather than “New Year’s Resolutions” – I’m thinking more about a 2013 “bucket list” of sorts. I guess that “thinking” is the key word here – as I am actually still forming this 2013 list.

I do know certain things that WILL be included…. moving my parents and my brother here to Kansas City, blogging more 🙂 taking a photography course (and, of course, taking a TON of pictures!), re-working my “Creations” room and then using that room to CREATE…!!!! There are so many creative ideas in my head… and I am so ready to start doing them… rather than just wishing that I was doing them!

I’m really excited about all that is ahead for the year, actually. It’s going to be a good year. So how about you…?

What’s on your “bucket list” for 2013?

(french) deals and donuts

9 / 6 / 12

For those of you who are “Kansas City friends”… You are probably aware of the fact that I have a booth out at Trendz Market. Well, I have to let you in on some breaking news. This week (thru next Tuesday), I have the “item of the week” (big gasp; then silence…) Yes. It’s true. While you are sitting here reading my blog post, you could be up at Trendz saving 20% on anything french…! Oooo la la, my friends. (Click on my Facebook page if you want a “sneak peek” at some of the featured items! For store hours and info, click on “shop with me at Trendz” link at the top of my blog site) OK. Maybe you are not here in Kansas City, or you are a new reader of my blog, and therefore have no idea what Trendz is… No worries. Simply click on the links at the top of this blog page…”who is creations by cathy” and “shop with me at trendz”. That should get you up-to-date. So now you’re sad. You wish that you lived here so that you could stop by Trendz and check it out. I’m sorry. I do, however, have two bits of good news that might cheer you up a bit.

Number one; I am working on getting a little shopping page together so that I can share some of my Creations goodies with all of my friends, near or far. It will be the “shop now” link at the top of this blog site. I will keep you posted.

And reason number two (the more delicious of the two); I found this yummy looking recipe at Camille Styles blog site. (Thank you, Camille!) Indulge and enjoy…

Baked French Breakfast Donuts

Adapted from Cooks.com

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup milk (I used whole milk)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat donut pan generously with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg; mix well.
Sift flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg together. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk.
Fill donut tins half full. Bake 15-20 minutes. Take out of pan immediately and swirl tops into melted butter, then sugar and cinnamon mixture. Makes 6-7 big donuts.

*Note: These work just as well in a muffin tin, too!

live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

this little piggy went to market…

6 / 20 / 12

I always wanted to be a buyer.

I went to college and majored in Fashion Merchandising with an (almost) minor in business. I pictured myself working for some well known chain of classy stores, traveling throughout the United States to various markets; wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of my crazy, exciting, cutting-edge career… OK. So maybe that’s not exactly how it all worked out. Upon graduating, I spent the next eight years in retail management; aside from the two (glorious) years that we lived in London. It was then that I entered into the career of a lifetime…(literally). The job was simply titled – “Mom”. The years to follow were, and continue to be, the best of my life. Nothing prepared me for the sheer magnitude of motherhood. Being the oldest of seven kids sure helped – but I had no idea how much I would really love being a mom to my two kids. It was, in all sincerity, the career of my dreams.

Kids have this terrible habit, however, of growing up. When my twins turned 12, I started my own little home business called “Creations (by cathy) so that I would have something for myself, especially when the (dreaded) moment came for them to leave for college. (In retrospect… one of the smartest things that I have ever done!) Back in 2002, we still had a Market in Kansas City. I can still remember the thrill and excitement of “going to market” for the very first time!!! I think that I probably just sat in my car and squealed like a little piglet before I went in. I was just SO excited!! That market has been gone for quite a while now, and I have had the opportunity to attend Market in Denver, Chicago (twice), Atlanta, and now, Dallas. Arrived in Dallas yesterday afternoon so that I could spend the evening chit-chatting over sushi with a niece who is currently living here in Dallas. We laughed and talked and wined and dined. Solved all the world’s problems… and then some (love ya, sweetie!)

The Dallas Market (click link) opened this AM – so when the wake-up call wrestled me out of a deep, dark sleep at about 6:45… I stumbled to the shower (Via the coffeemaker. Regular.) and began my day. Over the next 12 hours I would sit down exactly three times. Five minutes for breakfast and 10 minutes on the shuttle bus to Market and back. “Lunch” is defined as “food that the Reps often put out to entice you to stay in their showrooms”. It is free, it may (or may not) be something that sounds good and it does not involve sitting. Yep. This is what I love. It’s that crazy hustle, bustle “thrill of the hunt” feeling that I dreamed of right after college. (There was just an ever-so-slight “delay of game” getting here.) And the hunt is even more exciting and challenging this time around. I am truly “starting over” at this Market in a fresh, new direction – shabby chic, feminine,”cottagey”… and often with a French accent! Everything that I love!! Woo-Hoo!! I am truly like a little kid going to Disney World! Today was wonderful. Now it’s time for a little “beauty rest”. Still have another 2 1/2 days in “The Magic Kingdom”, and I certainly don’t want to have dark circles under my eyes if I run into Minnie Mouse!

creating yourself

6 / 5 / 12

And so who is “creations by cathy“…? Hmmm… well, that’s kind of a long story. OK, let’s be honest here. I don’t know any short stories. Period. Better that you know that from the start. But I try. Really, I do. In fact, I will try right now. This is gonna be the short story of “Creations”…

Well, let’s see… I started Creations almost 10 years ago in July 2002. During that time I specialized in giftware and hand-painted glassware (by yours truly!), participated in about a million different shows and had booths in four different locations (stores) throughout Kansas City (at different times). Presently, I can be found at Trendz Market, an upscale boutique co-op in south Kansas City (151st & Nall for you “locals”!), where I have been since it opened, just over three years ago.

Everything changed in early 2012. I finally found the inner strength to follow my true passion; a very “Shabby Chic, English/French Country, cottage-y, feminine” sort of look… (How is that for a description!) This meant completely changing EVERYTHING about Creations… my merchandise, logo, business cards, Facebook site, Blog ( and here we are!) and, soon to come, my new website! Whew! (A big “shout out” to BRANDtabulous and my “re-branding buddy/partner-in-crime”, Jerrod!!) Now that I am almost done with the whole process, I have to tell you that I am SO HAPPY! I love the look and feel of everything… it just feels like ME! It feels so good to be true to your authentic self – and that is where I am right now. (I will elaborate more on the whole “authentic self” thing later. I’m a big believer!)

So here is a toast to creating yourself, and more importantly, to RE-creating yourself..! live happy~ laugh, love, dream, create