baby did a bad bad thing

Well, not that bad.
It's just that I can't always bring myself to spend large sums of money on things like art show displays, etc. I always hope that I will walk into a junk shop or garage sale and *poof*! The mannequin of my dreams will be there, and for only five bucks!
The truth is that you do have to shell out substantial dinero for these things every so often. Which is what I did yesterday. Big online shopping trip. I'm sure it will be worth it though; I've grown so weary of the cheapo black velvet necklace stands I was using (the kind with the easel that doesn't even correctly connect in the back, and they blow over if somebody so much as walks by). I finally decided that, as I told my husband, the time has come for me to go big or go home.
The splurge was also part of a general "re-tooling." I've been working more on branding and have been kind of bored with the status quo as well. I participated in a local festival market recently and during a slow time I took the opportunity to check out other booths. It occurred to me that I kept seeing the same ubiquitous displays, and much like a stroll through the mall, there wasn't much that really drew me in to most of the booths. I would like shopping the Lonesome Road to be an "experience," unforgettable, like the shopper is being irresistibly drawn into another world. Oh, and if someone actually purchased something, that would be cool too, LOL.
So now that I've made a short story long, I'm looking forward to receiving my purchases and using them to make the Lonesome Road more memorable and fun.
In case you're wondering, I bought five new necklace stands in natural tones, a groovy "blue jeans" mannequin style display, and a "chestnut suede" display set in brown, my new black.

THE guide to ultra living!

"PAD"
The Guide to Ultra-Living
by Matt Maranian

"Got the tastes of Barbarella with a budget considerably more earthbound?"
So begins the first chapter of this mutha of all decorating idea books.
I purchased this book a few years ago, while living at my last apartment. Okay, I'm very adventurous when it comes to decorating; I'm not afraid of bold colors and things that make others go "hmmmm." The living room of my last apartment was decorated in bright reds, Halloween/Day of the Dead decor (which is now firmly ensconced in my current workspace/computer room), plus some Feng Shui touches.
"Pad" was truly the inspiration to let my freak flag fly when it came to decorating my personal space, and there's a chance that it could inspire you too. Who can't resist an "Opium Den Flame Pit" or a "Barbarella TV Cabinet?" (Can you tell that I adore the movie "Barbarella?")
Within the pages of "Pad" you will find instructions for an upcycled surfboard coffee table, the ever-popular "Porno Chic Love Lamp," and a handy "Cousin It Tissue Cozy."
No book about the joys of domesticity would be complete without an "After Dark" section; this one has a whole section of classic cocktails but more importantly, hangover cures and garish garnishes including the "Flaming Fruit Flip" and the "Crystal Craze GummiSaver Kabob." Rounding out the section is a collection of "Freaked-Out Punch Mixes" including "Nuclear Pond Scum." Want to impress your friends? You must attempt the "Pyromaniac Centerpieces With the Magic of Sterno." No party is complete without tunes; "Pad" has a whole set of recommendations plus pages of party themes like "The Short Attention Span Video Festival," "Living Room Weenie Roast," and "The No-Talent Show."
Consult the sage pages of "Pad" if you're bored with off-white walls, your dusty rose floral sectional and wine from a box. There's a whole world of rad decorating and fun out there and "Pad" is a great place to start learning.

RATING: TWO THUMBS UP PLUS A MIDDLE FINGER TO THE ORDINARY!

a little more about "sunday dinner redux"...

Sunday Dinner Redux is my attempt to bring sanity into my own schedule, LOL, and to share some recipes and thoughts about food and cooking in general.
There was a time when I experimented with all kinds of ingredients, techniques, and new recipes but sadly the time factor has crept in, impacting my natural creativity in the kitchen. Well, I'm about to change all that (I hope) and get back to my old adventurous self when it comes to new dishes, meal plans etc., at least one day a week *sigh*.
Our often inconvenient schedule in the Lonesome Road household includes hubby's karate three weeknights a week; his twelve-hour workshifts, and me "trying to get something done" so the flexibility of time just isn't there most days. Saturday and Sunday are really the only two days of the week where our work and after-work schedules don't affect our mealtimes. Now, I'm not really one for all the nuclear-family-sitting-around-the-table-listening-to-each-other-slurp-and-chew-scene; I'm more of a grazer myself and I like to eat when I'm hungry not when a clock or person tells me that "it's time." But I do believe that in the midst of our hurried lifestyles, among the rush and on-the-go habits we've adopted, it's nice to slow down occasionally and treat cooking and nourishment as a nurturing process, a process that can be enjoyable in itself, not just something to hurry through to get out of the way.

So, in the future I will continue to post about my fun in the kitchen and what I have learned; I enjoy all types of food and have lots of things to share. I also hope that you will share your ideas with me!

sunday dinner redux - love on a plate with a twist I

Pork a la Criolla

This is a fabulously flavorful Puerto Rican-seasoned roast pork flavored with the most basic of ingredients. The beautiful part is that you don't really have to remember to marinate the pork overnight; simply rubbing the pork with the ingredients and popping it in the oven or on the grill will also yield delicious results!
The seasoning is well-suited to all types of pork; center-cut roasts, tenderloins, pork chops, and if you're tired of barbecue, even ribs.
Try this on beef and chicken as well; if marinating, chicken will take much less time.

Did I mention roast potatoes with this seasoning? Try it!

Recipe:
2 to 3 lbs. lean pork (roast, tenderloin, chops)
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cloves garlic, crushed (more or less if you like)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1-1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 tablespoon salt

Either marinate the pork in a plastic zipper bag overnight in the refrigerator, or simply rub seasoning on meat; either will yield a delicious result. Roast or grill as desired, until pork reaches an internal temperature of 165 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you're feeling extravagant... a golden saffron rice with peas is wonderful with this; on a budget... mashed potatoes and salad and/or a favorite green veggie would be the perfect accompaniment.
Oh, and of course... your favorite libation. Pork a la Criolla is full of assertive flavors; something light would be ideal.

Oh baby, baby it's a wild world....

It would not be such a bad thing to be remembered as a child; full of wonder, hope, possibilities and a bright future... don't you think?
As we mature it's easy to lose that childlike quality due to the circumstances that life throws in our paths. As the Cat Stevens lyrics point out, there's a lot of bad and beware... you've seen a lot of what the world can do and it can break your heart in two.
But the world can do a lot of good as well...
I have been on a most interesting journey during the last seven years. Initially 2002 was not the most inspiring year in my life; the death of my mother from colon cancer (three years earlier my father died of lung cancer), followed by a major relationship break-up that facilitated the need for an immediate move and legal protection, and a couple of months later I "suffered" the subsequent loss of my job (due to the closing of the family-owned newspaper where I had worked for six years). Through it all I had the support of my closest cousin and her family (I'm an only child) and co-workers and friends.
Throughout, and because of, my many personal losses in that four-month timespan in 2002 I conjured up a steely strength and independence that I always knew that I had; the time was ripe and I didn't really have a choice, heh - I'm not a quitter and not really a whiner (even though I bitch a lot). I rented my own stylin' digs and started a new job where I eventually met the love of my life who became my husband. Once again I moved, from an urban area to a place that was much like where I grew up - rural farm country, this time on a gravel road (hence the name "Lonesome Road Studio," don't worry though, I'm not really lonesome, LOL). Green Acres became the place for me; I am Lisa Douglas (but I can actually make pancakes.).
Fast forward to 2008: Artistic juices stirring + increasing ennui with traditional employment = exploring other avenues of creative expression. I simultaneously signed up to sell my work online and network with local art groups. Probably one of the top ten best things I've ever done.
Another fast forward, to 2009: Ready for another change (What a surprise. I'm a Gemini, mutable air sign. And in Chinese astrology I'm a double Fire Horse. Not excuses, just observations.).
I have created the Lonesome Road Studio blog to not only take a walk on the wild side with friends old and new, but to explore things I've put on the back burner for one reason or another. And I'm inviting all willing participants to share in the journey. This blog is not about reminiscing about the good old days, or "finding myself." I know who I am and I want to see how much more I can be. This blog will truly be a long strange trip of things that catch my eye and will be shared with all who dare to put on their walkin' boots and walk the wild side with Lonesome Road Studio.
In addition, I plan to shine a bright spotlight on things that I adore (including artistic and culinary endeavors, two of my favorite pasttimes). You might re-connect with old friends and meet new ones; I hope you will be inspired to channel your inner creative self and learn with me or offer your own sage advice through constructive commentary. Lonesome Road Studio is now open, and open to anything. Get ready for the ride!