To Numa and Sun, with love..

The story of my old bestfriend in heaven, little Richy...

Richy lived in the house next door to mine in Arizona when I was six. Richy and I were the best of friends. We did everything together... the same class in Sunday school, the same kindergarten, same nap time, we even had the same career ideas... we both thought we'd be doctors... and practiced on one another quite a bit. Our moms had to become best friends just to make their lives easier.

The day Richy died,

was the first day in all the time we'd been that I, not knowing of his passing had decided it would be fun to play with girls, because boys stink, and conveniently there were two new little girls that moved in right up the street, just the day before.

The sad news,

When I was home from playing with the girls, I found my mom crying on the kitchen floor.
She soon explained to me that Richy had gone back to heaven, and that I would not be able to play with him again here on earth...

Richy was my very best friend, I didn't get to say goodbye... I didn't get to say I'm sorry for not playing with him, I didn't get to tell him about my two new girlfriends.. I would have invited him next time, truly I would...

A heartbroken, regretful little girl and a smart and creative mommy..

A few days passed and I wasn't feeling any better... wishing I could tell him one more thing, two more things, just three more things... "YOU'RE FUNNER THAN GIRLS!! you're my best friend, we will get to play again in heaven one day, I LOVE YOU".

My mother had been in and out of my room all week, trying to comfort me. Telling me different things about heaven and love. Things that felt good to hear, but lost their potency seconds after they were spoken. It wasn't until she entered my room this time, with Richy's favorite color red, a helium balloon, a white index card, some color pencils, and lots of new knowledge... she told me that the first week in heaven Richy could indeed receive letters from family and friends here on earth. (this story must have been told to protect my mother from having to send letters to heaven each and everyday for the rest of my childhood). And that's just what we did, not every day, but just this once.. we sent Richy a letter to heaven via balloon!!

To my dear Numa, I hope your creative endeavors bring you strength and peace of mind, and to anyone who may be experiencing pain from the recent passing of Sun Sannes. I love you.

The photo above is of my good friend Numa Perrier, and her heavenly Sun...
Photo taken by Femi Emiola

What it is to love.. and be loved...

I found these two in a antique showroom that turns samba club at night..

Dinner party with new friends, and my lover by my side...

Color, and the spice of life!

The farmers market in Copacabana (very different from the ones in L.A. and N.Y.), is my all time favorite place to go! It's a place where all types shop... and it's cheap... really freakin' cheap!!!..

I just can't believe there's such thing as a farmers market, that will sell me a piece of fruit, for under $1.00.. WOW!

I'm a bit of a cheap label whore! I just looove to label things... It stems from my love, and soft spot for the good ol' country livin', and my respect for inexpensive, and resourceful ways in making things look beautiful... In fact, I think that's one aspect that boldly defines designer from DESIGNER!!... A resourceful and creative DESIGNER can improve upon just about any room, given little to zero budget at all!..

If you want to share any ideas, thoughts, or photographs of your creative endeavors, I would be more than happy to post them here!!.. under category marked Mail without a mailbox to call my own. My email is bexsue at gmail dot com hope to see you soon!

Chalk boarding is great for kitchen cabinets, or a kitchen wall, and tons of fun for a kids room... so don't go buying over priced label tags, thinking you have no use for the whole bucket of chalkboard paint... There's always something that can use labeling!

I once went pretty loopy with a gallon of paint... pealed the labels off each and every glass jar in my icebox, including the jars of Mayo!... As if that weren't enough.. I went for my big hardback cookbooks... covering each ones front, back, and side, with paint.. chalking them different titles...

I want to be a Collector again!!!

I've been wearing the same flip flops every day for more than 4months!! And find it hard to collect anything other than the sand that falls into the lining of my bikini.. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying.. It's tuff traveling to all these beautiful places, seeing all these marvelous gadgets and gizmos and not being able to keep a single one for myself.. and then I remember.. I haven't had to clean or so much as dust a single nick knack in as long as I've owned these beat
up havaianas!!.. I do believe now, I am bragging.. hee he hee

If any of you ladies checked out the category marked.. inspiration, in early on posts... you've already had a taste of my love for pretty dolls!





I love this little guy in the middle right of the photo.. you see him? With his cute little stash!

Pousada Das Flores

This cute little Pousada has quite the Betsey Johnson flair!. Silly and beautiful just how I like it!

Betsey Johnson is one of my favorite dress designers, and did you know she has a villa hotel in Mexico.. I'll show you sometime.

There's no time like the present time.. here's a look at the FABULOUS Betsey Johnson...

Can I hear someone say.. I WANT A B.J. ROOM!!!


The photo quality is gosh awful, but you get the idea! Isn't she silly? Betseyville
Pousada Das Flores

Happy Friday Girls! It's a clowdy day here in Salvador..

Some sweet thoughts to brighten the day... What inspires you?..

Pousada Do Boqueirao

I wish I could take this bathroom home with me!! You know those bathrooms that make you feel clean even before you've showered? This is that kind of bathroom!!

Most of the tiles in this post were hand painted, and the ones that were
not look as though they were, only adding to their charm...

Ceramic tiles were used so much in the past because they allowed for
a better thermal insulation of the houses, not just because they were
damn beautiful!!.. Don't ya just love when beauty meets practicality!



We Americans don't have as easy access to these lovely tiles in the states, in less of course we want to dish out muito dinheiro... So what's the alternative?!?!... linoleum.. NOT!!! But there is a cheep, fun, and easy (hee hee), way to achieve the same kind of thing...

Step one; go to your couch and check all your cushions for any loose change.. then that junk drawer in the kitchen, you're sure to find a buck or two.. now if you've found up to $10 to $12 you're ready to shop for your tile!!! Your local Goodwill or Salvation Army (not Salvation Army Boutique) should have all you need to get started. In my experience the more colorful and detailed the china the better the results. I've had really good luck with the pretty little tea cup sets, Although large serving or dinner plates will cover more surface.

If you have all your tile to begin your project? Go home and invite all your best girlfriends over for some delicious, get down, Greek food and start breaking.. OPA!!!

On a side note* Salvation Army in L.A. or other parts of the states depending on the area, always have pretty jacked up prices?!? Ok, so some of them are kind of cute with names like Salvation Army Boutique... but still, THEY GET ALL THEIR MERCHANDISE FOR FREE!! It's all donated!!! and they plane on selling me a pair of pumps for $40.00..WHAT!! The whole concept behind Salvation Army has kind of got me confused?!?! Do they give back to the community by offering low prices or do they... ??? If any of you feel my pain or have any idea what's going on over there in L.A. I'd love to hear it?


Pousada Do Boqueirao Salvador.Bahia.Santo Antonio.Brazil