Sunday, February 20, 2011

Ritual


For years, I have followed a routine each morning:
-make the coffee
-let the dog out
-read the newspaper
-check my email (while eating breakfast)
-get ready for the day
-hustle the girls along
-drive to school/work and start the day

Even as I list my routine, it appears quite mundane and generic. Doesn't everyone perform some version of this every morning? Perhaps. Yet, strangely enough, my routine is quite comforting to me. There is a inner calm and intrinsic reward that comes from the process of "home". My husband would probably call it my penchant for romanticizing. I prefer to call it attitude and perspective. So here is my refined list...

-grind the beans for my favorite coffee that wakes my senses and never fails
to remind me of my father.



-let my dog, Charlie, out. The best part of this is letting him back in and
giving him a good rub behind the ears. A dog's love know no bounds!



-read the newspaper. I have not yet converted to reading news online. Perhaps,
like my resistance to e-readers, I love the rustle of paper in my hand, the
smell of the Seda France candle I have just lighted (Japanese Quince!), the
coffee waking me up, and Charlie now nestled into my side.


-check my email(while eating breakfast). Not much ambiance here except that I can also check and update the Sonata Facebook page at the same time.So fun to keep you updated on the latest happenings at Sonata!




-get ready for the day. Because I am an early riser, I still have the bathroom
and closet to myself. After my shower, coffee in tow, I proceed to blow dry
my hair while adeptly turning the pages of my latest shelter magazine.
(a talent, I know!)


-hustle the girls along. My twin daughters are NOT early risers! Usually, they
are running down the stairs at the last minute before I take them to school.
Perhaps it is their last minute flurry and my coffee-induced alertness
that keeps us rockin' and rollin'!



-as we head to school, I treasure the car time with the girls. Outwardly, we
go over the day's carpooling and schedule of activities for the day. Inwardly,
I am thinking how they will soon be driving themselves!




Romanticized? Perhaps. But which list do you prefer?

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Girls Night Out


What is it about a night out with girls? Is it our way of escaping the rigors of the day? Do we need to recapture our connection with our "girly" side? Is it our opportunity to meet up with friends that we haven't seen in a while. Of course, it is all three! If one of these reasons sounds like you right now, then gather some friends and head to Sonata on Thursday night (Feb. 17)! From 5:00-8:00 p.m., there will be evening specials, door prizes, fun music, new merchandise, food, wine....Wow! I can't wait!

While I love to putter in the kitchen when I have lots of time, that is not the case this week. So, I decided to roam the aisles of Trader Joes and stock up on fun food and Three Buck Chuck for the evening! I love easy! (and Trader Joes!)

Whether by yourself or with friends, family, or co-workers, you are invited to a casual evening of hanging with the girls doing what I know we all love to do. Talk, eat, and shop! See you there!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Sleep. Pink. Love!


Purchase any pajama set, robe, or Curly Girl item between now and Valentine's Day and receive a $5.00 gift certificate from Sonata. Tuck it into your favorite valentine or use it to buy yourself something special!

Curly Girl candles!






Pucker up Bathrobe!


Curly Girls Canteens and Travel Mugs




Curly Girl Laptop Skins!


Sleep. Pink. Love!


Happy Valentines Day!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Catch Up, Spring!

I know it is only February, but I am yearning for a peek of Spring! Here are some new arrivals at Sonata to get us all in the mood!



Allium canvases



Pops of color against a great shade of grey



My husband says I am obsessed with spreader knives. Can you see why?



Someday my (frog) prince will come!



Sonata always has a touch of French style. Imagine all the places you could use this scenic canvas floor screen.



Sometimes we need a little Zen...



Spring had better hurry! Sonata is way ahead!