Happy Hallowe'en

Have a spooky (but not too scary) evening! (illustration via Vintage Holiday Crafts)

ciao-shivery-meow/GG & her editor

The Clever Pup's Paris Notebook - Week's End

GG Central is in a mad Friday/Saturday- Hallowe'en-Rally for Sanity rush...oof. So pull up a chair, sip on some hot chocolate (or a glass of wine) & dip into the recent Parisian adventures of our Canadian friend. This is a new & ongoing venture, not the Pup you might be accustomed to (note the Breton shirt, ballerinas, & the beret placed just so). Très mignon, non?

We'll be back over the weekend to wish you a Happy Hallowe'en. (You can always hop over to GG's editor's blog & say boo.)

ciao-meow/GG's editor

(illustration by Hazel Smith/all rights reserved 2010/used with permission)

Pepita Treats

We just made these--so easy. All you need are pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds), sugar, honey, & a little butter. Click here for the recipe from Martha Stewart's Halloween Central. More What To Do with Pumpkin Seeds. We're making the spicy pumpkin seeds next. (image via Martha Stewart) PS: Each treat is 2 Weight Watchers pts. Enjoy!

ciao-crunch-meow/GG Central

Play Dress-Up - Mad Men Yourself

Are you missing Mad Men? Are you supposed to be doing something else right now but musing & waiting for a good idea (or waiting to get out of a task?). It happens to the most productive of us. Go to AMC's Mad Men Yourself & play. (Be aware that some jazzy music will start up & we can't figure out how to mute it for you.) Set a timer so you don't spend more than 10 minutes. Then you're done. Here's our rather plain first attempt. Note the rolled-up newspaper, ready to whack (lightly) people for criticizing Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert for holding the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Keep Fear Alive here in Washington, DC on Saturday. Yes, we're going. No, it will not harm our democracy. That political satirists are allowed to have a rally in the middle of the national's capital IS the point.

By the way--if you're in the States, you are planning to vote next Tuesday -- if you've not already done so in early voting/absentee voting. Right? Hmmmm.

ciao-meow/GG's Mad Men Basket Case

(second image via Indecision Forever (dot) com)

Shabby Apple Dare to Design Finalists - Vote Now

GG wants YOU to vote for your favorite Shabby Apple's Dare to Design finalist dress. There is a technical error that zee blogeuse at Apple a Day is working to resolve, but you can vote in the comments for now. Voting ends 15 November 2010. Vote only once. (This photograph is on many sites. This particular version is from audrey hepburn complex via daily bits of beauty)

ciao-meow/GG's hairdresser (she doesn't need a dress, remember?)

Win "A Long Piece of String"

Hint--it's a children's book. Are you interested in vintage (ahem) 1963 children's literature? Are you American or Canadian? Well, go to Basket of Kisses & enter this giveaway. (Basket of Kisses is GG's editor's favorite blog about Mad Men.) You have until 31 October (this Sunday). All you have to do is visit & say to whom you would read the book if you won. Easy peasy. (images via Basket of Kisses)

ciao-meow/GG's editor

Hallowe'en Costumes - Butterflies & Bees

Some fun costume ideas & how-to for adults & for grown-up + child via Martha Stewart. Only a few more days. We are working on the GG template & also on GG's editor's blog, so we're letting Martha & her amazing staff do the heavy lifting. (above: Madame Butterfly, Cat & Kitten, & Beekeeper)

ciao-meow/GG Hallowe'en Central

Celebrate Hallowe'en with a Black Kitten

Pssst. Do you live in the Washington, DC-area? There's a wonderful idea on the Washington Animal Rescue League's website (in italics, below). Also enjoy artist Tina Tarnoff's Audition for a Black Cat. It's very funny. (photograph by Ralph Crane via LIFE archives)

ciao-meow/GG Central

In the spirit of Halloween, if you adopt any of our kittens with black hair on them, you will receive 50% off the adoption fee (only $25)! From now until the end of October 31, when you adopt a kitten (under 1 year old) that has any black fur on them, the adoption fee will only be $25. As always, if you adopt a cat that is over 1 year old, the adoption fee is waived. Come in to see the spectacular kittens we have available at the League who are awaiting their perfect, forever homes!

GG's Geography Games

Quiz Your Noodle & other free games from National Geographic Kids. GG is utterly uninterested in broadening her horizons today. Even after viewing this adorable illustration of a worldly teacher & her students. She just yawned. Despair. (An Interesting Lecture illustration via Vintage Holiday Crafts)

ciao-meow/GG's editor

Fierce Feline Pumpkin

GG's pumpkin design choice this year. Lots of good ideas & templates to download/print at Martha Stewart Halloween Central. How difficult can this be? We'll let you know. (We are still trying to sort out the website template & colors. Meanwhile, thanks for not making fun of us!)

ciao-rowr-meow/GG Central

New York City Ballet Coloring Pages - Week's End

Who knew that one of our favorite ballet companies had a children's section on their website? You did? We salute you. We're behind the times, apparently. There are 36 thumbnails to click on. An outline of characters is downloaded with the ballet title, choreographers, & costume credits. Click print et voilà. You become the costume designer. GG's editor just tried it & it works perfectly. Have a great weekend.

ciao-meow/GG Central

(little ballerina feet by Alfred Eisenstaedt/LIFE; coloring book via NYCB website)

Hallowe'en Flower Girls

Need Hallowe'en costume ideas? Flower mad like GG & her editor? Here are a few from Martha Stewart. The top photograph is our ideal & is definitely do-able. (Don't forget about FEED Projects Halloween Trick-or-Treat bag.) Adult costumes & masks up next. (Very simple ideas, too.) (photographs via Martha Stewart & bricolage)

ciao-meow/GG Central

The Sketchbook Project 2011

Doesn't this look like fun? GG continues to hide her opposable thumbs & cannot participate. But you can. (There is a price but if you would like to be part of a large art project & travelling exhibit, it seems small. Of course, if you cannot, keep drawing anyway!)

Even though GG's editor has used Moleskines for various projects over the years, she was alerted to The Sketchbook Project by the lovely author of secret, fragile skies & agelessbeautyalways (separate blogs). We highly recommend these elegant & slightly wistful reflections by a writer in New York.

Now go sketch, draw, play, start a rumpus. Giulia is exhibiting her talent in that last activity. Right. Now.

ciao-meow/GG's beleaguered editor

(graphics by Hannes Haus from his 2009 Sketchbook)

NB: The deadline to sign up is 31 October 2010. There are discounts for groups.

GOTV - Volunteer to Get Out the Vote

"This election isn't just about one vote or one party--it's about your future. It's time to get out there and shape it, it's time to get out there and fight for it."--President Obama


Please spread the message. This election is as important as 2008, perhaps more.

ciao-meow/GGTV

Fresh Flowers for Tough Times

For those of us residing in the State of Penury, here is an excellent idea by Sarah of Blossom and Branch, via Design*Sponge. It's a definite upgrade from our parsley-in-a-creamer. This is Sarah's second post in a twice-a-month series, Flowers A-Z. Take a look, you might be surprised by the ingredients.

ciao-meow/GG's floral designer

(images via design*sponge, GG collage)

Made4Aid Monday - Flower Photography Cards

GG's editor did the math--not our strong suit, admittedly--but we are aces on a calculator. With free shipping world-wide (this is rare, people), each card costs $2.75 (USD). Go to any store & see if you can find lovely handmade cards for $2.75. We'll save you the trouble because we searched: you cannot. These cards make a thoughtful gift, too. GG Central has ordered from Made4Aid from nearly the beginning & can therefore highly recommend from several trouble-free experiences.

ciao-meow/GG's editor

(photograph & text below via Made4Aid's new etsy shop)

From Made4Aid:

A set of 8 original flower photography greeting cards. Made and donated to made4aid by Sally. The photographs are from a series of flower photos, printed in high resolution on glossy photographic paper and mounted on good quality card. The cards are blank inside for your own greeting and come with matching envelopes. The size of these cards is 5 inches/12.5cm square. The price of this item includes shipping worldwide. Made4aid items are sold to support the work of Médicins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and the World Food Programme. For more info. about made4aid go to www.made4aid.org

Sous le Ciel de Paris - Week's End

GG & her editor wish everyone a good weekend. A big welcome back from Paris to our friend La Clever Pup. Here is Juliette Gréco in 1962, singing the Jacques Brel song. It was re-popularized by last year's excellent film, An Education.

ciao-meow/GG Central

(Photograph by windswept ribbons via audrey hepburn complex)

30 Rock Live

If you're in the States, don't forget that 30 Rock is live tonight (here's the "live episode page."We love Tina Fey's Liz Lemon. First up, those of us in the East. And yes, this was a bit of an excuse to show this cute Cig Harvey photograph via Joanna at A Cup of Jo. Joanna & lil Toby have colds & are under-the-weather. Send them some purrs & bonjours.

ciao-cheeky-meow/GG's editor

Chile - Los 33

Felicitaciones a los mineros chilenos!

Our Spanish is almost non-existent but GG & her editor congratulate the Chilean miners, their families, & all those who participated in the extraordinary rescue effort. Soon, very soon, let us discuss why this dangerous mine was allowed to operate. (A discussion worth having around the world.)

ciao-meow/GG Central

(seagulls by D Sharon Pruitt/Pink Sherbet Photography/Creative Commons set)

Audrey Hepburn's Ballerinas Auction

Audrey Hepburn's eldest son, Sean Ferrer wrote last month that he & his brother Luca Dotti have decided to auction off one of the last pairs of his mother's ballerinas to benefit the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund & UNICEF. Please visit the Foundation website & see how you can help. Wouldn't Audrey do that for your children? (You bet!)

ciao-pirouette-meow/GG Central

(Audrey Hepburn, 1955, Norman Parkinson Archive, via Liverpool Museums)