Cover Thy Head

Hats are happy!  They protect and give shelter.  Every person should own a stylish hat that can be worn at the beach, by the pool, going out, making a statement, to cover a bad hair day (that's usually my excuse) and any other reason you can think of!  I found some adorable (yet expensive) hats from Anthropologie.  Check them out to get ideas!  Enjoy your beautiful, holiday weekend.

All hats can be found at Anthropologie.

Chlorophyll Cloche

Best-Of-Both Hat

Sun Whirl Fedora

Foggy Dawn Cap

Beautiful Designs

I am in love with every one of these pictrues.  The colors are so happy and rich and are really giving me some good ideas for when Greg and I move. 

Look at the space of the kitchen with the exit to a beautiful ornate patio...what I would give to have that!  It looks like the ideal style of kitchen for parties.  Did you ever notice how people always congregate in the kitchen during parties?  I think it's awesome! 

The rich brown mixed with the green in the second picture is so stunning.  Those two colors together create a calming effect.  The white accents really brighten the whole room up and would make me want to sit in there and do some work or enjoy a good meal.  I think Travelers should create my cubicle in this style! 

The pedastal for the fruit on the counter is so pretty.  The antique feeling it gives to a modern counter is spectacular.  And those mugs!  Love them!  I'm going to do a little searching to see if I can find some: one with a "G", "A" and "D".  I would hang them from hooks in the kitchen as decoration, but then be able to use them at a drop of a hat.  Superb!

The bamboo stalks in the vintage style jugs are amazing.  They create an awesome faux wall effect that allows the rooms to still feel really open.  I definitely want to have something like this, perhaps between the dining room and living room.  This way it feels like two seperate rooms when in reality it is only one.  It's all about how a person uses the space they have.  One can do a lot with a tiny apartment without making it feel too overwhelming or cluttered.

This kitchen counter is phenomenal!  It is made out of recycled glass and the color is just breathtaking.  It's so amazing because it is like a piece of art that you get to enjoy all the time because God knows how much time people (especially those women) spend in their kitchen!  I'm not going to complain because I enjoy it, but I would enjoy it even more if I had this counter to work on (wink wink Greg!)

I adore the bedroom because it looks like such a warm and comfortable place to rest my tired.  I love the idea of have pictures framed above the bed in lieu of a headboard.  That's how Greg and I have our bedroom now and it is so simple and elegant. 

(All images from HGTV )

Recipe of the Week!

I have decided that every week I will provide you all with a delicious recipe that I have either tried myself or found on one of my favorite websites AllRecipes.com.  I enjoy looking up different kinds of cookies, breads, dinners, snacks, etc that I can try to make down the line.  Being able to produce a wonderful bread is a gift because you are then able to share it with others as a kind gesture or present.  I found this really neat Banana Bread that is baked in canning jars!  What an awesome idea!  You bake the bread right in the jar and then can decorate the jar with a ribbon or bow and place it in a small basket that is lined with a red and white checkered dish towel and include a small butter knife tied with a tiny bow for decoration.  Think of what the person receiving this gift would say!  They would be so impressed with the creativity and detail.  Try it out and make someone's day!

Ingredients

2/3 cup shortening

2 2/3 cups white sugar

4 eggs

2 cups mashed bananas

2/3 cup water

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

2/3 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease insides of 8 (1 pint) straight sided, wide mouth canning jars.

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, bananas, and water. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves. Add to banana mixture. Stir in nuts.

Pour mixture into greased WIDE MOUTH pint jars, filling 1/2 full of batter. Do NOT put lids on jars for baking. Be careful to keep the rims clean, wiping off any batter that gets on the rims.

Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, sterilize the lids and rings in boiling water.

As soon as cake is done, remove from oven one at a time, wipe rims of jars and put on lid and ring. Jars will seal as cakes cool. Place the jars on the counter and listen for them to "ping" as they seal. If you miss the "ping", wait until they are completely cool and press on the top of the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it's sealed.

Jars should be eaten immediately or kept sealed in refrigerator for up to a week.

(Recipe from AllRecipes.com )

ENJOY!

Music Friday!

I have put together a list of the next 20 songs that are in the queue on the iPod. These songs are my saving force while at work when I need to get things done. Enjoy!

• Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood
• Ace of Base - I Saw The Sign
• Darius Rucker - Alright
• Aaliyah - Try Again
• Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun
• Bon Jovi - Bed Of Roses
• Zac Brown Band - Toes
• N'Sync - Gone
• The Coors - No Good For Me
• Bon Jovi - Bullet
• Train - Hey Soul Sister
• Bob Marley - Jammin'
• From the Boondock Saints Album - The Hills of Ireland
• Buckcherry - Sorry
• Gavin Degraw - I Don't Want To Be
• Dave Matthews Band - Two Step
• Billy Squire - The Stroke
• Led Zeppelin - D'Yer Mak'er
• Lonestar - Amazed
• Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive

HAPPY FRIDAY!

(Image from : Swingcopation )

  

 

The Stunning Musical Stylings of....

Allison McCann!  I was privileged to experience a recital of the fabulous musician, Allison McCann on Friday May 14, 2010.  I have been blessed to know Allison McCann (from here on out, known as Alli Mac) since the ripe old age of ... 2.  Yes...that adds up to many many years!  I have been there from the moment she picked up her first violin (and what a small violin it was!)  Alli Mac has just graduated with her second master's degree, yes I said second master's...maybe I should start working on one????  Just a thought.  Anyway, she has accomplished this wonderful feat of finishing a second master's degree and therefore to exhibit her hard work she put on a recital for everyone she knew.  It was spectacular!  Alli Mac is so beyond great when she plays her violin.  In fact, it often brings a tear to my eye not only because she is so great, but also because I am so proud of all the hard work she has put into her playing.  With that said and the tear in my eye, I sign off for the night....enjoy the pictures!

Throw some flowers at me

I really love flowers. They are so natural, beautiful and really make me wonder how there can be so many negative feelings in this world when we are surrounded by such beauty. The wonder of how many different species of flowers evolved over all these millions of years is incredible! I am getting married in September and I have decided to use calla lilies and roses as the flowers. The calla lily is so regal and extraordinary. The shape of the flower itself is accented by the long green stem that sprouts and looks like it could go on for miles. When they are bunched together in a bouquet the style of the flower is beyond words. It truly takes my breath away and I cannot wait to see all my girls carrying them on that special day.

Images from:

Katinka Matson - Purple Calla Lillies

White Calla Lilies

Decked in Jewels

Look at all these beautiful pieces!  People are so talented and creative with their designs and style.  http://www.etsy.com/ truly allows designers to express their art and share it with others.  It is such a wonderful place for those who like to design to showcase their delightful pieces, while it is a superb place to find one of a kind pieces to complete your own personal wardrobe.  It's the ebay for designers!  I love it and spend a lot of my time just browsing all the spectacular categories.  Although I would like to buy every thing I look at, I don't.  It takes a lot of will power not to click "Add To Cart" let me tell you!  However, I think all of you should check out some of these awesome pieces and perhaps click that "Add To Cart" button...support these artists!

All these pieces can be found on http://www.etsy.com/ .

Starting at the top:

Designer : lizix26 Mod Plume D'Or -14kt gold filled chain, pearl and Chalcedony

Designer : MDsparks Natural Nest Necklace with white pearls

Designer : RamshackleStudio Handmade, Carved Wood Pendant w/ Steel Accents

Designer : WahtVeritas One of a kind Necklace  

Clutch This!

I love, love, love clutch bags.  A clutch can complete any outfit and can make any girl feel pretty.  The idea of a clutch bag is just precious.  It can be dressed up or dressed down, which makes it the best accessory out there!  It's been quite some time since I have found a clutch I have wanted to buy, however I was on Etsy and I came across 100+ clutches I would now like to buy!  Greg will probably not be too happy about that (he complains I have too many bags already, but hey!  A girl can NEVER have too many bags. Period. Plus, these are small bags.  He thinks all my other bags are "Mary Poppins bags" so maybe he would like these?)  Anyway, a clutch is ideal.  It allows for enough space for your phone, chapstick, wallet, and keys...I guess, seriously, what else do you need?  That is the pot calling the kettle black since I seem to find anything and everything to throw in my "Mary Poppins bag".  However, maybe if I obtained more clutches that would match every outfit I have then the big bag would be phased out and the clutch would be used 100% of the time.  It would make Greg happy...hmmmm. 

Check out http://www.etsy.com/ for some awesome finds!

These clutches can be found on Etsy by designers: alaparisienne, ClutchThat and meshkadesign.

Gold Blush and Glamorous

Embroidered Peacock Feathers Ivory Silk Purse Handmade

Cute buttoned Green Clutch

Curve Balls

Isn't it a funny thing, life?  It throws you curve balls from the left and then another one from the right.  As long as you have strong, supportive family and friends around you it all works out and you couldn't be happier.  I thank all of you who have been that strong wall holding me up.  Much love.

(Photo from http://www.usmansheikh.com/ Journey of a Serial Entrepreneur)

Coffee and Wine

There is nothing like starting your day off with a piping hot cup of coffee.  It just makes the morning that much better.  It allows me to tackle any task that is thrown at me in the course of waking up, driving to work, retrieving voicemails and lunch.  On the flip side, there is nothing better than ending your day with a nice, smooth, nicely aged red wine (or white wine for those of you who might enjoy the lighter bodied beverage.) 

My suggestion to all is: Enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning and a smooth, bold wine at night.  Your day will be complete and fulfilled.






(Photo of coffee from )

(Photo of red wine from www.pfiwestern.com/.../2008/09/26/red-wines/ )

Entertainment via Text

Have you ever had a conversation with someone in person, via email or over text that you stopped and said to yourself, "Self, am I seriously having this conversation right now?" Well, I have and in fact it just happened.

So there I am sitting at work when I hear that familiar buzz of my phone vibrating on my desk. A little sense of excitement comes over me as I try to figure out who it could be before looking. Low and behold it's LP. Now, I cannot remember a time where LP and I have had a conversation that did not involve some sort of name calling, ridiculous incident, drama or anything along those lines. I knew this text would be no different.

It starts off nice..."morning sunshine. Did you get my msg last night?"
I thought, "Hey! What a nice way to start a text message." But being the person that I am, I cannot just say no I did not get the message...there must be some sort of sarcasm mixed in. I ask LP, "What message?? Where?? Was it a telepathic message??" Come on, was that necessary on my part? Probably not. Anyway, to make a long story short, LP had a hair dying debacle. Turns out her roots turned orange and I was not there to make fun of her! A tear almost formed in my eye at the thought of missing out on a opportunity to point and laugh. As the conversation continues, LP informs me that her drain is clogged from all the hair that fell out during her process of coloring. She says she is lucky to have all her hair still because she swore she was going to be bald by the end of this experience. Being the good friend that I am, I assured her that if that happened I would buy her a wig...in fact I would buy her wigs for everyday of the week to match any mood she might be in. I think I am a good friend, don't you? :-)
Needless to say, this conversation has brightened my morning more than LP or anyone will ever know. I look forward to these conversations I share with my friends because it reminds me of how lucky I am to have people in my life that can talk about the most absurd things and then in the next second be serious and understanding. Thank you for being a great friend LP!

(Photo from http://www.uni.illinois.edu/og/features/2009/02/out-old Out with the new, in with the old : Sindha's guide to vintage stores in downtown Champaign)

Good job!

"Don't let anyone ever tell you that you don't give good customer service."

That is probably one of the nicest things I heard all day. Doesn't it make you feel good when you are recognized for a job well done?

What is the nicest thing someone has said to you today?

(Photo from http://www.hclabc.bc.ca/services/awards 2010 HealthCareleaders Awards)

So here we are...

Do you feel like you have to jump through numerous hoops in life, no, let's make it more like real life, jump through numerous hoops in a single day to accomplish the smallest thing? It's hard to focus on yourself, your goals, and your tasks for the day when those who surround you are constantly nagging or have no respect for the surroundings. Imagine trying to complete your work assignment while the lady behind you whistles, sings out loud, laughs constantly and talks to herself! I think that explains my hell.

I do not and will not use this blog as a place to vent; however I will use it to explain, entice thought provoking comments/conversations along with sharing all those things in life that make happy.

I welcome you to the journey we are about to embark on…

(Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/john/15588777/ New hat and a hula hoop)