IQ, EQ, What???

Here we go... EQ = Emotional Intelligence - definition by leading researchers Salovey and Mayer: ""the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use the information to guide one's thinking and actions."

Tomorrow night, speaking to our school district on Long Island, is Linda Lantieri, 'internationally known expert in social and emotional learning and conflict resolution and author of the 2008 book,   Building Emotional Intelligence: Techniques to Cultivate Inner Strength in Children... guided by the 1995 book by Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ.  Goleman discovered Salovey and Mayer's study while working as a science reporter for the NY Times in 1990.

 I am hoping for a good turn out tomorrow as I believe that it is imperative that parents understand how to cope with the ever increasing academic pressure placed on our children. 

On a MUCH lighter note... tonight is the Season Finale of one of our favorite family shows (next to NCIS, and the now extinct 'Monk'), USA Networks' Psych... a sleuthing comedy/drama , "featuring a sharp police consultant and reluctant sidekick solving crimes". If you missed the season you can watch full episodes on usanetworks' website...

 While you're watching you'll 'NEED' to eat these fabulous Coffee Toffee Bars, from the fabulous blogger Ree Drummond also known as 'The Pioneer Woman'.

I made them for company last Saturday night and they flew off the plate... if you don't want the coffee in them just leave it out of the recipe.  I was out of almond extract, but had hazelnut extract so I used that and they were so good and buttery just like my grandmothers recipe for scotchbread, but with a twist!

Enjoy... and let me know how you feel about today's blog in 'comments' below, thanks!

Pothole Garden!

While you're cursing every pothole (which right now are quite numerous), your car and your butt must endure this time of year, think about this... artist Pete Dungey's pothole garden installations in England...

My first thought is 'How Sweet', my second thought (being one who loves to garden), is who is going to water them... then I remember it's England!

Speaking of gardening, I may have to consider growing my own tomatoes this summer, since the word is that there will be a shortage due to the cold Florida winter they've had, and since I'm just slightly obsessed with finding the perfect tomato...

Remember this... firm for salads... soft for cooking...

And if you're not into growing them yourself, buy tomatoes from your local farmstand... they taste better and local growers need your support.

Oscar Madness!

Imagine the frustration and MADNESS of about one million (out of 3.1 million viewers) Long Islanders including myself, who had the red carpet pulled out from under their feet, unable to watch the ABC7 coverage of the Oscars last night... it's a REALLY scary thought!  My personal madness began earlier in the day when my husband promised to take the kids to see the 5pm showing of Alice in Wonderland... I was already worried that Cablevision was not going to settle their dispute with ABC by 8pm, and the pressure to find a way to watch on the internet (NOT happening), eat dinner, clean up and be ready for one of my favorite TV events of the year!  I didn't want to barge in either on my neighbors who had FIOS (and were sitting pretty), but it was tempting... By the time I missed the Red Carpet my blood was boiling, I was alternately on the phone commiserating with my equally CRAZED girlfriend, and on hold with Cablevision poised to let my frustration out to the already verbally beaten down employee on the other end of the line when... when he says to me at about 8:38 in this eerily calm tone... "are you in front of your TV", yes I replied, "then go to 707", ok I said, "what do you see", OMG!!!...  it was the Oscars, I was speechless just like some of the award recipients...  in fact it felt like I had won too!

Some of my favorites gowns of the night...

Beautiful this year... and I love you Jeff Bridges, and always have...

Crimson Prints

There's nothing like color in the home to make a room luscious and captivating, whether it's just an accent piece to break up neutrals, or an eclectic mix of prints.  You might think that if you pick strong color you'll tire of it quickly, but I find it's just the opposite... These pieces from Anthropologie are a great way to mix it up at home and the price is right...

Julah Ottoman, $198

Laelia Bedding, $58-$228

Terai Folding Chair, $198

Now if you're someone like me who tends to wear a lot of black, but likes color in your home then you'll love what's here... but maybe you're one who loves the neutrals for your home, but likes to wear color, then spring has sprung with this silk tank top with hankerchief hem...

Stamped Tulips Tank, $88

Which one are you?...

Stay tuned for BACK to BLACK next week with a look at a great downtown Manhattan/Brooklyn store that has a terrific website!

Magical Photo Tools!

It takes only a few minutes to do, but you could spend days having fun with these websites!

My sister wants me to design a Tee for my nephew with a skatboarding theme, so last night while I was doing research on the web I came across two very COOOOL websites that both take your digital photos and create something NEW with them and they're FREE!... and what you do with the final image is your choice... with many options for output media.

Something that computers do VERY WELL... is taking lots of information, in this case your digital photos, hundreds if you like, and instantly make a collage in almost any shape you can think of...

Shapecollage.com

I made these two shapes very quickly with some of the photos I've taken for my blog... but a theme like one of your kids, your dog,a family trip, etc. would be very visually strong...

Make it with 50 or 250 photos

Closeup

So many shapes including letters and numbers, or something you draw

The other website I found is PhotFunia, it's a photo editing tool, a little gimmicky, but so much FUN!!!

 "Upload any photo and just wait to see the magic."

This photo of my son became...

This...  in one click!

My other son when he was in elementary school

Some of the effects are animated too...

Send them as gifts to friends and family... they'll love it!

A Bit-O-Sunshine...

Oh Dreary, Oh Dreary,... when will the sun shine (I know from the weather report it's this weekend), but it doesn't sound as good to say that, when I'm trying to be poetic about these gray days we've endured.

Yesterday my beautiful niece sent a bit-o-sunshine to all on FB from Paris, about a group of indie musicians from San Francisco (my old town for 11 years) whose new album "Big Echo" will debut on March 9th.  I wanted to share with you their refreshing sound... so join me in listenng to 'The Morning Benders' on  YouTube...

"The Morning Benders joined by a group of friends and SF music found-abouts..."

Besides connecting with friends and family today, and getting some work done, the only thing I can think of that might lift my spirits is something chocolate... just a bit-o- chocolate... I don't want to make up those 11.5  pounds I've lost since January!

I've been wanting to turn my kids onto chocolate malt... and these Chocolate-Malt Sandwiches from Martha Stewart are just the perfect thing to satisfy my love of semisweet chocolate and that touch of tangy malt...

When the kids come home from school today these will be waiting for them with a cold glass of milk

Something For Me and For Him

It's hard to get myself out of Target for any less than $200 dollars per visit... between clothing, accessories, bedding, bath, food... One could be locked inside for weeks without a problem... only IMAC withdrawal for me... otherwise I'd be ok, in fact that's not a bad place to head for in a natural disaster, just search it on the 'WHERE' app on your phone (besides being fun to use), and hunker down.
Anyway, back to my purchase the other day... a few spring items I wanted to show you from Target...

Scarf $12.99, Belt $25, TShirt $10

My husband asked me to buy him a new bar soap, something other than the usual white Dove I usually buy for everyone in the family... I found this delicious NEW product at Target from Dove for men. The fragrance is great and it's subtle, not like those overpowering machismo scents I usually come across for men...

Body and face wash

Bar Soap

p.s. The kids love it too!