Blog Vacation!!

Back Next Monday!

Smoochies!

xoxoxox

Tonya
Image:  Rainy Leaf by Lillith Snapped.

Happy Friday!

Hey, everyone! 

I know I say this a lot, but thanks for stopping by the blog this week.  And then again, maybe I don't say it enough!  I really appreciate all of you and you make me happy with your comments.  I could kiss you all! 

I really love this blog and it has brought me a lot of joy and happiness and most of that is related to all of you. 

Now, having said that, I'm wiped out.  The nature of my law practice is sort of cyclical and right now, I'm swimming in an ocean of stuff that has to be done and everything else feels behind. 

So I'm taking a little "blog-cation" next week to regroup and get my footing back.

Don't worry, I will be back with a vengeance on  November 1 and hopefully, I'll be renewed and re-energized. 

In the meantime, have a great weekend and kiss the ones you love. 

And I'll see you on November 1!!

xoxox

Tonya

A Little Extra Pretty for the Weekend

Image:  Lovers in the Moonlight by Marc Chagall.

This Charming Man

I think I've told y'all before that The Smiths remind me of college and my most vivid memories of college really hit me this time of year.  Autumn on a college campus is a very heady time!

So The Smiths are going to play for us this weekend! 

Smoochies!

The Weekly Bean

Someone made a "mess" in the guest bedroom.  I will spare you the gory details and the photographic evidence.  Suffice it to say that it was obvious and unmistakable.

The suspects were assembled:

I said:  "Excuse me..."

I said:  "Who made potty in the guest room?"

If you'll notice, Finn looks a little sheepish which means he knew about it and didn't say anything.  Lola has mastered the innocent  "Huh?  What are you talking about" look.

Then I get the "Don't be mad at me, please don't be mad at me, you're not really that mad, look how cute I am, please don't be made at me" face.... 

And it's hard for me to be mad at him 'cause I know he didn't do it. 

*notice the conspicuous absence of Bean participation during this part of the whole thing....*

And then after I tell her I know she did it, I get this face:

 

This is the "That was a million years ago and I can't even remember back that far and I'm not going to admit it even if I do remember it and you can't prove anything and Finn might have done it and if you think I'm going to apologize you're crazy" look.

She will maintain plausible deniability at all costs....

Random Pretty Man

I'm back on the Johnny Depp bandwagon. 

*heavy sigh*

God and Sex, Part II

So I read this book last weekend. I found it very interesting. 

For the most part, it was remarkable for it's lack of impassioned rhetoric.  Despite it's provocative title, the subject is presented in a very matter of fact, academic way.  But I didn't find it dry or boring. 

The upshot of Mr. Coogan's position is that the Bible was written a long time ago, by many different authors and over a thousand years.  It was not "delivered to humanity as a complete book, written by God and shrink wrapped in a shipment from Amazon." 

The Bible is an "anthology, a selection of texts from ancient Israel, early Judaism and, for Christians, from the first hundred years or so of Christianity."  The texts or "books" of the Bible were written "over the course of many centuries, and, like all other books, ...reflect the presuppositions and prejudices, the ideas and ideals of their authors (almost entirely men) and of the societies in and for which they were written." 

Mr. Coogan walks us through many hot button modern topics concerning sex, including pre-marital sex, marriage, abortion, homosexuality, divorce, bestiality and prostitution.  He quotes some portions of the biblical text and points out that they are often unclear, incomplete and contradictory.  He also discusses the social and political framework of the societies from which they originated.  From his view, most of the "rules" about sex laid out in the Bible had more to do with money, social standing and power than morality.  He points out, quite rightly, I think, that the Bible didn't define marriage as a union between "One Man and One Woman" so much as it was a union between "One Man and Many Women."  He goes on to find absolute support for slavery and for putting those convicted of adultery to death, positions which have been abandoned by contemporary moralists who nevertheless cite the Bible in support for their position that homosexuality is wrong, because the Bible says so.  The Biblical writers' understanding of homosexuality, as well as adultery, slavery and gender roles, was that of their own times. 

Ultimately, Mr. Coogan concludes that the Bible has been flexible and adaptable to new situations which are vastly different from their original contexts and that we should rely on the overarching authority of the Bible in it's promotion of the fair and equitable treatment of others, which is the essence of the scripture. 

Overall, I thought this was a worthwhile and extremely helpful book, presented with respect and reverence.  It has helped my understanding of the Word and deepened my belief not only in the love of God but in my conviction that His love should extend to all who love Him and each other in His name. 

This Charming Closet

I think I kinda want this dress.... but is it too Flashdance? 

Wednesday - Run Away Without Leaving Home

Image:  Gumballs on the Street by Ann Wilkinson Photography.

A Little Extra

As Barry Gibb said so long ago, "Nobody gets too much love anymore."

And I figured a little bit more on Wednesday would do us all some good.

Image:  Love by Sweet Blue Photography.

I'm Really Confused

I don't understand why the Republicans want government out of every aspect of our lives, except our churches and our bedrooms. 

I suppose it would be OK if the government established a religion, as long as you belonged to the religion the government decided on.  Everybody else would be a little put out.  

And I don't understand how anybody could take this woman seriously. 

I think she might bother me less if I weren't a lawyer, but then I'll never know.....

Image:  Are You Free by Chicalookate.

Charming Words

de-sire [dih-zahy ur]

verb

1.  a longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment;

2.  an expressed wish


Image:  A Streetcar Named Desire Bayou Salvage.

Tuesday's Girl

"I feel very adventurous.  There are so many doors to be opened, and I'm not afraid to look behind them."

 Elizabeth Taylor

Stayin' Alive

I don't know what disturbs me more, the pants or the hair styles.....

In any event, as Alice Cooper once said "Everybody complains about the Bee Gees but if Stayin' Alive comes on the radio, everybody turns it up". 

And you know that Alice Cooper knows what for.....

This Charming Closet

Y'all!  Sparkly shorts!!!  From Anthropologie.

Happy Monday

Happy Monday, everyone!

Image:  Dahlia by Emmarts.

Saturday Afternoon

Saturday was a beautiful, cool fall day in Charlotte. 

First there was yarn buying for the knock off Kate Spade scarf/wrap.  I am now the owner of 8 skeins of purple baby alpaca yarn and it is my understanding that the knitting is underway....

Then it was on to Fish Tacos at Cabo Fish Taco (postponed from the night before)

While we were over there we serendipitously witnessed the final end to the Center of the Earth Gallery..... they were taking down the sign.   Ah, me.....

The Bee Charmer Loves Paris

"A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future."

Coco Chanel

Image:  Mademoiselle Chanel by Cindy Prins.

A Little Extra Pretty To Start Off the Week

 

I wanna be Mrs. Bono when I grow up.  

Sunday Evening

Our neighbor's Halloween decorations.  It's head moves and it's eyes are lit up....

Completely ignored by Lola Bean, it is Finn's new arch-nemesis.   He spent 15 minutes barking at it from an average distance of 10 feet. 

Lola went over to investigate the grass and got accidentally entangled in the cords holding it down, causing it to suddenly lurch. 

Mr. Vicious ran off like a scalded chicken to the end of his leash, barking monstrously as he bravely ran away.....

I would like to have had a picture of him, but I couldn't figure out how to hold on to both of them, take pictures while trespassing in somebody else's yard and not get arrested - all at the same time.

Happy Friday!

Hi, everyone!

I want to thank everyone for stopping by this week.  I really appreciate it.

I have a big day today.  As I told you earlier this week, I am having head shots made and while I'm hoping for the best, I generally hate to have my picture taken.

Friday night I'm headed over to NoDa to gallery crawl and eat either cajun or fish tacos.  I don't know which way we'll go yet.  Isn't that exciting?

We are also shopping for yarn with which to make the Kate Spade shawl that I'm lusting for.  And speaking of Kate Spade, y'all all know about the "Friends and Family" sale this weekend, right?  If you don't, you should 'like' Kate Spade on Facebook so you can get in on the action.

And also - big news - Finn and Lola are going to the spa this weekend.  It's the first time they are going to ride in the big car crate together and I'm hoping it goes well.  Either way, they'll be clean and fluffy by Saturday night.

Clean Beans are a blessing to everyone.

Sunday I think I'll get a massage, if possible.   Shut up.  I've had a hard week. 

So have a great weekend.  Sleep in and snuggle down.

And I'll see you on Monday.
Image:  Purple Aster by Judy Stalus.

This Charming Closet

  

The shorts story has gotten a little longer......

I ordered them from a boutique and of course they emailed to tell me that they were sold out in my size and they aren't expecting any more until next spring.  

Bummer.  

So I went searching elsewhere.  And I found them in another boutique and since I signed up for their email list I got a 20% off coupon.  

Score!  And they have 2 day shipping for less than the other place.  Score again!!

I'm hoping my perseverance pays off. 

In the meantime, Halle continues to appear in the shorts and taunt me. 

On October

"Listen!  The wind is rising and the air is wild with leaves.  We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"

Humbert Wolfe 

Image:  Autumn by Tricia McKellar.

A Little Extra Pretty for the Weekend

I saw this in Venice at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. 

And it made my soul happy. 
Image:  Empire of Light.  Rene Magritte, 1953-1954.

Addicted to Love

Robert Palmer, who I loved, is here to play for the weekend.

Have a great one.

The Weekly Bean

This boy loves to sleep.

He also has horrible teeth!

On Tuesday night, he broke one of his front middle teeth.  We went to the vet on Wednesday and it has to come out.  I guess he's gonna be a little toothless boy before it's over with.

The good news is that we don't have to put him under general anesthesia to pull it, he'll just have to be sedated.

He's scheduled for next Wednesday and he's on his doggy painkillers until then - although the vet doesn't think it bothers him a lot, she thinks it is probably a little painful and the meds will do the trick.

Keep your fingers crossed for healthy Beans after this.

Binyamina Chocolate Liqueur

The other night after my facial, my darling friend, L.A., gave me a shot of this stuff to try, cause she's cool like that.

OMG!  It's chocolate syrup..... with ALCOHOL!

The possibilities are endless.......

And because L.A. loves me so much, she gave me some to bring home.  I now have about 1/2 cup of it in a mason jar in my fridge.

I'm not sharing, so don't ask me.

I am ordering some for the holidays.

Love

"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does.  Love is a battle; love is a war; love is a growing up."

James A. Baldwin

God and Sex

I'm reading it.

This is what Amazon has to say about it:

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Readers looking for an unbiased appraisal of what the Bible says about premarital sex, homosexuality, and polygamy can trust Coogan, a biblical scholar of the highest order. Concise, clear, and accessible to general readers, this book covers all the usual topics plus a few that may surprise. A professor of religious studies at Stonehill College and editor of the New Oxford Annotated Bible, Coogan has also taught at Harvard and Wellesley. He covers predictable ground in unpredictable ways, frankly noting, for example, the pervasive biblical assumption that women ar`e subordinate while explaining how that reflects the Bible's foreign and ancient context. The author does not overreach the evidence to promote his own agenda, but notes the Bible's contradictions on certain issues and admits the limits of modern scholarship. Readers may be surprised to find a convincing discussion of evidence for God's own (sometimes unflattering) sexuality, in metaphor if not in fact. Coogan's reminder at the book's end that modern application of biblical texts requires interpretation and nuance is a welcome corrective to selective, literalist use.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

If you're interested, check it out.

Random Pretty Man

Every woman has a secret little list of inappropriate boys that she'd snog if given the opportunity.

Marshall Mathers is on my list......

This Charming Closet

So, remember when we discussed the J. Crew sparkly pants?  And I said that I'd like them if they were black and not gathered at the bottom?

Well, apparently the sparkly pants gods heard me because I have located just such a garment - at St. John!  The sequin mesh flare pant, to be exact. 

Now, if I can only locate an extra $1,200.00 lying around somewhere, I can just go buy them! 

Wednesday - Run Away Without Leaving Home

Image:  Paris is a Feeling by IS Photography.

This Charming Closet

So you all know that earlier this summer I blogged about the sad, sad state of my favorite pair of 14 year old cut off blue jean shorts......

Despite the fact that they were falling apart in June I wore them all summer.

I mean, I looked for a new pair, but I had no luck.  I even tried to find an equally-vintage-but-in-better- shape pair on Ebay.  No dice.

On Monday night, I wore them when I went to get my facial and when I was changing into my robe I realized that the holes in the butt are no longer bordering on obscene, but have crossed on over into absolutely inappropriate to be worn out of my house.  I can't deny it anymore.

In the meantime, I've been lusting for these shorts, which Halle Berry has been rocking this summer.

Near as I have been able to tell, they are the Siwy Denim Camilla Cut Offs in the wonder wash.  So, I ordered them.  I feel like I ought to apologize for spending so much money on them, but I won't for 3 reasons:

First, I don't have to put children through college.  The upshot of that is that I can spend more on clothes.

Second, I have pretty much lived in my cutoffs for the past 14 years.  As a result of this, my previous pair of $20 cutoffs have literally fallen apart.  They no longer have the molecular makeup of denim..... So, it's not like the new ones won't be worn.

Third, I had a coupon.  I mean, not before I started shopping but I sure as hell looked for one before I committed to buy them.  There is just something about getting 10% off that makes shopping easier, isn't there?

I'll let you know how it goes.

On Living

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."

Nelson Mandela

Image:  Hearts of Fire by Moonlight Photography. 

Reid's Fine Foods

Charlotte Peeps!  Did you know that Reid's Fine Foods in relocating to the shopping center at the corner of Selwyn and Colony?

Well it is. 

So now it will be conveniently located in my neighborhood!

Yay!

Charming Words

 

Mag-ic [maj-ik]

 - noun

Any extraordinary or mystical influence, charm or power

Image:  Fairy Wings by Moonlight Photography.

Tuesday's Girl

"You also can't be afraid of failure, because that's the thing that can scare the hell out of you."

Kate Spade

This Charming Closet

This is the Hand in Hand Pom Pom Scarf from Kate Spade - although I think it's more like a shawl than a scarf. 

Whatever it is, I am I LOVE with it.  Love I tell you.  LOVE.

I am not in love with it's $275 price tag.

What is a girl to do?

Well, if you're me, you conscript your knitting fiend friend, Julie, to make one for you.  She has agreed and we are shopping for yarn this weekend.

Yay!  How great is that?  And this way I get to pick exactly the color I want and she gets to live her knitting bliss.  Everybody's happy!

I have to wait for her to finish the thing, but I figure I'll have mine way before Kate Spade's expected delivery date of November 25th.  And it's still too hot in Charlotte to wear it anyway. 

Money's Too Tight to Mention

When I was a freshmen in college, we were having a recession, Ronald Reagan was President and that fall, this song seemed to be the song playing on our floor in Arnold Hall.  

It's pretty apropos lately, too.

This Charming Handbag

I have broken down and ordered myself some calling cards.  I've been thinking about it for a while and I finally pulled the trigger last week.

These are the modern square calling card from Pixel Impress over on Etsy.  Pam is a friend of a friend and I am so glad she's making these for me.

Of course you all know that now I have to buy some sort of a card holder to put the cards in and then I'll but the card holder in my handbag. I think the main appeal of having calling cards is that it's one more thing that I can put in a handbag.  

Kate Spade is the leading card holder contender right now.  My ability to spend money is staggering!

Happy Monday

Hi!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!

I enjoyed my family and the Jake very much and my soon to be new nephew, whose name is Liam, has been outfitted with a proper nursery outfit from Pottery Barn Kids. 

Sunday I didn't feel good and woke up with a stomach ache sometime in the night and was squicky for most of the day.  Around 3 I went to get my toes done and am happy to report they are now presentable. 

I have court today (every Monday's business, I suppose) and then a blessedly appointment free week.  I am getting a facial tonight (YAY!) and I can't wait.  I am blessed with the most incredible facialist (and dear and darling friend) and seeing her is always a quadruple treat of happy for me.  And it is very good that I'm seeing her because I am having head shots taken on Friday. 

I know that some people enjoy having their pictures taken but I rank it right up there with trying on bathing suits and root canal.  I am determined to take a decent picture, though and the photographer is going to do my makeup which also makes me happy.  I need a head shot for work (more later) and she's going to do some fun shots, too, and I hope some of them will turn up on the blog. 

So thanks to everyone for dropping by, let's hope for a great week!
Image:  Magenta (Autumn Afternoon in the Garden) by Tricia McKellar.

Happy Columbus Day!

"And the sea will grant each man new hope....his sleep brings dreams of home."

Christopher Columbus

Image:  Simplicity by Sherri Conley Photography.

A Little Extra Marilyn to Start Off the Week

Marilyn Monroe in a Black Dress, 1962 by Bert Stern.

Sunday Morning - With Betty White

.....Jammin' with Betty on Sunday Morning here at Chateau Bee Charmer!

The Bee Charmer Loves Paris

Image:  Eiffel Tower Landscape by Landscape Photography by Felix.

Happy Friday!

Hi! 

It's Friday. 

Isn't that a wonderful sentence? 

It's.  Friday.

Yay!

Just a quick post to to tell y'all to have a great weekend.  My sister, brother-in-law and charming nephew, the Jake, will be visiting me this weekend and we are doing small child oriented things.  This is always interesting for me, since I rarely do small child oriented things.  We're supposed to have great weather, so I think it will be fun.  Oh, and don't ever tell the Jake that I referred to him as a small child.  He's 7 1/2.  That's old. 

So have a great weekend and enjoy the beautiful fall weather.  Drink a toast to John Lennon on his birthday. 

And I'll see you on Monday. 
Image:  The Magic of Reading by Cindy Prins.

A Little Extra Pretty for the Weekend

Image:  Sixteen Street 4.10, 2008 by Jill Moser.

Imagine

October 9 would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday.

Rest in Peace.