Infinity Scarf ~ KayLim

Wandering around Etsy, I fell in love with this scarf by LA designer KayLim.  The colors are gorgeous and I like how versatile it is (necklace? scarf? it's both.).  Check out her shop here.

Leather Cuffs ~ Lipstick Gypsy

I've been coveting these cuffs for quite some time.  Robin Krall ("Lipstick Gypsy") creates these by hammering old spoons and hand-stamping the letters.  You can purchase them as is, or she will customize with your own words.  My fave is the Vintage Gypsy.  Click here to visit her Etsy shop.

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Bohemian Vegetable Soup

A hearty vegetable soup perfect for winter (I have a thing for barley).  Recipe courtesy of The Saturday Evening Post.

(Makes 8 to 10 servings)

• 2 gallons water or beef stock
• 1/2 cup barley
• 1 bunch carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 onions, peeled and chopped
• 4 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 cup turnip, diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 basil leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 bunch parsley
• 2-3 tablespoons tamari (soy sauce)
• 4 tablespoons margarine
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

Put water, beef stock, or water fortified with beef base into large pan, bring to boil. Add barley, simmer 1 hour.
Prepare vegetables, add them and tamari to soup. Cook until vegetables are almost tender.
Heat margarine in small saucepan. Stir in flour, cook 1 minute. Add 2 cups stock, stir until well blended. Add mixture to soup. Simmer until soup thickens. Taste for seasoning, adding more tamari if necessary. Serve in large tureen. Accompany with slabs of thick dark buttered bread.

Red!

Are you a red person?  I adore it.  Whether used as a little accent color or enveloping an entire room, red just does it for me.

{all images courtesy of Pintrest}

Love

This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.  ~Rumi

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vintage luggage

I've always loved vintage luggage.  Incorporating them into your home gives your a space a "I'm ready to hit the road anytime" vibe...

{above images courtesy of pinterest}

Ever find your furry friend in an open suitcase?  Get instructions on how to make this cool cat bed here.  Or, if you want one ready-made, check out the options here.

"I really should..."

Find yourself saying that frequently?  Reading this article can help put things back in perspective.  Give yourself a break from all the "shoulds" for a while...enjoy the moment, embrace what is now, and love your fabulous self exactly as you are!

 I took this during a sunset hike a few years ago...

A Few Good Finds

Some fun things I found this week...click on the text under the image for more info.

love this leaf mug ~ only $18!

Emily Bavilet's artwork is gorgeous.  This is a set of gift cards.  You can also puchase original paintings and prints.

My Leo self couldn't resist these charming lion bottles (I mean c'mon, there's a crown on the back!).

perfume bottle necklaces!

peter christian's tavern

If you're ever travelling through the Lake Sunapee region in New Hampshire, stop by this great tavern in New London.  Not far from my home, it's one of my favorite places to eat in the area.  The food is unpretentious and hearty, and they have the BEST mustard I've ever had (they serve it with a basket of pretzels when you arrive, and you can buy jars of it). It has a rustic old-world pub atmosphere, and folk or rock music hums in the background.  Visit their website for the menu and directions.

I've never had a bad dish there, but especially good is the onion soup, any of the tavern sandwiches, and the carrot cake!

You can also see my mom's handiwork - she made their stained glass door :)

the art of the letter

My grandmother sends me lovely handwritten letters regularly.  I cherish them.  Her sentiments are always sweet and thoughtful, the stationery beautiful, and her handwriting always reveals something about her mood or how she's feeling physically...the latest showed she was probably a bit tired.  I love to re-read them when I'm feeling in need of her encouraging spirit.  As I held her note, I started to think about about the (lost?) art of letter writing. 

In this age of instant digital communication, I wonder how many people actually write letters anymore? I remember a time when anticipating a letter from a friend or loved one was exciting.  Even the waiting had a certain romance about it.  I accepted the fact that it would take a few days for the letter to arrive; it was just the way of things.

So, while emailing and the like have obvious benefits, for me, it will never replace the letter.  Can a lover tuck a rose petal in an email?  A friend send a bookmark in a text message?  Doodle in the margins of an instant message?  Can you tie up digital communication with a pretty ribbon and tuck it away in a special box?  Maybe I'm revealing my inner fuddy-duddy, but I'm sad for my children's generation; many of them may never experience the unique beauty and charm of handwritten letters.

I think I'll write my son and daughter each a letter this week...and doodle in the margins.

xx

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