Thinking Green

Tocamade

I wear a very basic color palette - some would say bland: black, brown, and grays. I simply feel it is easier to mix my clothing this way. It is my way of "simplifying my life". This way most of my wardrobe matches.  I do however,  love accessories! I love jewelry, shoes, handbags and scarves to give my wardrobe a pop of color. I found this shop on Etsy called Tocamade that features upcycled scarves made of high quality fabrics like silk. I think I may be doing some shopping!

Tocamade on Etsy

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasures

Paris Fashion Week Fall 2011: The 10 Best Collections. Click on the Alexander McQueen dress (designed by Sarah Burton), above to be taken to the slide show via Fashionista.

Monday Musings

Some beautiful items from an Etsy treasury of shops that support the efforts to aid our fellow friends and allies in Japan. Let's face it - we all are a bit fragile in this fragile world. This treasury was created by Nes Jewelry. Click on each photo to be taken to the shop for the item pictured.

Reflections - To John and Evan

Now is a time for you to celebrate ...
the accomplishment of a dream you have worked so hard to realize.
You have shown so many people how special you are.

Now is the time to begin to pursue the next path, to reach out for the
next star, and to achieve the things that are so important to you.

Always keep your dreams alive. And keep them coming true.

Author Unknown

(Image via unc.edu)

Saturday Simplify

Perform every action artfully. Life is your canvas, your clay, your musical composition. Take hold of it, tap into your creativity and express it. Participate in life by surrounding yourself with inspiring people and things you find inspiring...follow your heart and live each moment of your life fully.

Friday Food Feature

Delicious Strawberry Soup

1 qt fresh strawberries

1 c sugar

6 T balsamic vinegar

1/2 t finely grated orange zest

1/2 t finely grated lemon zest

1 T orange juice

6 c unflavored Greek yogurt

• In a bowl, toss 20 halved strawberries with 1/2 cup sugar and 2 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar. Let the berries soften for a couple of hours at room temperature.
• Puree strawberries with the sugar, vinegar, zests, and orange juice. Whip the yogurt in a bowl, then stir into the strawberry puree until smooth. Place in refrigerator and chill well.
• When ready to serve, ladle the soup into flat bowls and drizzle with a bit of the pureed strawberries, if desired.  

 For other cold soups visit the website: Great Cold Soups
Photo via Great Cold Soups.

Thinking Green

Did you know that some pharmacies will recycle your empty prescription bottles? These pharmacies usually use removable prescription labels to protect consumer privacy and keep the plastic free of glue and paper residue. Check with your pharmacy to see if this is a service they provide and keep a bit more plastic out of the landfills.

My Dear Husband on our 25th Wedding Anniversary

"What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility."
-George Levinger

My dear husband, On our 25th Anniversary I wish to thank you for being my "bestest" friend all these years and despite our differences always being there, loving and caring for me ♥ I love you and always will ♥

Tuesday's Treasures

This Paper Ship on Etsy

Here are a few links on Etsy for items from which a portion of the proceeds will aid the victims of the recent Tsunami in Japan. Feel free to share the love and repost on your blog or Facebook page. 

Lauren B Photography on Etsy

 

 

Rawr Cakes on Etsy

FlakEater on Etsy

Click on any of the names under the photos to be taken to their shops or click here for lists of other artists donating a portion of their sales to the victims in Japan.

Monday Musings

Happy Birthday my baby boy! 20 years old - not a teenager any more!

♥ love you with all my heart♥

Reflections

"If you pour all your energy into one thing, you're sure to harm the rest of your being". Tao-te ching

photo via jPhilipson

Saturday Simplify

When you wake up in the morning see the day as a new beginning.

photo via trekearth

Friday Food Feature - Cool Tool

From Stacks and Stacks

Spring is a great time for organizing every room in your home. I love opening the windows and cleaning the house from top to bottom (granted it takes me until June to completely accomplish this task). I actually enjoy cleaning my kitchen cabinets and found this great spice rack that would take up very little space yet provide you with all the spices you need at your fingertips. You can find it on the website Stacks and Stacks, a great website to help get your home tidy and organized.

Thinking Green

Repurpose and old door with your stored up wine corks! I'll have to admit I think I have had enough wine to cover one of these cork boards. Don't quite know if that's a good thing that I am being thrifty and have saved the corks knowing I would use them for something or an indicator that I am a wino (neophine sounds nicer).  check out the blog post called "When One Door Closes" via Handmade.

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasures

The Ides of March or March 15th, is best known as the date that Julius Caesar met his untimely demise at the hands of members of the Roman Senate led by Marcus Brutus and 60 co-conspirators. Here are a few very unique items found on the artisan site Etsy with an "Ides of March" theme. Just click on the photo to be taken to the shops:

 

Rustic Goth

 

Momopics

 

Surrender Dorothy

Monday Musings

Winter in Maine is such a great time to get caught up on organizing about the house.  I found this really great video on Youtube for organizing bookcases. So fun to watch:

Reflections

"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired." Robert Frost

Glass Heart Paperweight by Robert Held

Saturday Simplify

"Before filling a bowl with food, see the empty bowl as a pair of hands cupped together. "  Barbara Ann Kipfer

photo from library of congress

 

Friday Food Feature

For many years I was not very good about "remembering" to eat breakfast. Don't get me wrong I ALWAYS drink one or two cups of coffee first thing but that is not breakfast, or at least shouldn't be.  I think it's a kick-back to the days of High School and College and all the Yo-Yo dieting. I am paying for it now. Health studies have shown the worst thing one can do is skip a meal or breakfast as your body, to put it simply, goes into starvation mode and stores fat. So really skipping meals can make you heavier (menopause doesn't help either)!  In the last few years I have become much more disciplined in my eating and do consistently eat breakfast. Here are a few ideas from Real Simple Magazine on 9 Fast and Healthy ideas for breakfast. Click on the photo below to be taken to their slide show with delicious suggestions!

Thinking Green

I love the color and thickness of this felt by FilzFelt.  FilzFelt is a combination of the German word for felt (filz) and the English (felt). The company, run by two women, Kelly and Traci, imports wool felt from Germany, sells it by the yard and as finished products. Their wool felt is a biodegradable and renewable material. It is also water-resistant and interestingly, is known for its thermal and acoustic insulation properties (they offer 5 thicknesses). I love their fabulous, saturated, Pantone-Matching System color choices! Visit their website at FilzFelt.com .

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Goat Island by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

Two Inspire You is a delightful shop on Etsy filled with items beckoning Spring. Here are a few lovely treasures below but be sure to check out her shop here to bring a bit of warmth into your winter world!

Monday Musings

Spring Break!!! I am visiting NYC this week with my son Evan. Looking forward to some shopping, theater and museums. Here is a selection of 2011 Picks from NY Fashion Week via Rachel Zoe. Have a great week!

Reflections

 photo via lynncb74blue

Although there is no certainty about what lies ahead, people live with the hope that all will go well for them. It is impossible to fulfill our life when we are utterly discouraged. But if we manage to keep our hopes in the future alive, we will be able to overcome all sorts of difficulties and go on living.  

Dalai Lama

Saturday Simplify -

A few thoughts on presence, gratitude and appreciation from the Tao of Pooh:

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"
"What's for breakfast? said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
"It's the same thing," he said."

Friday Food Feature

Whoopie Pies

Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg

Filling:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar
• 2 cups marshmallow cream such as Marshmallow Fluff
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
  Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until combined. Stir together buttermilk and vanilla in a small bowl.
  Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a handheld, then add egg, beating until combined well. Reduce speed to low and alternately mix in flour mixture and buttermilk in batches, beginning and ending with flour, scraping down side of bowl occasionally, and mixing until smooth.
  Spoon 1/4-cup mounds of batter about 2 inches apart onto 2 buttered large baking sheets. Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until tops are puffed and cakes spring back when touched, 11 to 13 minutes. Transfer with a metal spatula to a rack to cool completely.
  Make filling:
  Beat together butter, confectioners sugar, marshmallow, and vanilla in a bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
  Assemble pies:
  Spread a rounded tablespoon filling on flat sides of half of cakes and top with remaining cakes.
  
  
  Recipe and photo via Epicurious
   

Thinking Green

Ecostasy is a conscious sustainable design company whose objectives are "values-driven appreciation of curated objects that promote social and environmental good." I love their beautiful selection of interior home products and personal accessories. Check them out at Ecostasy.com

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Tree in the Harbor by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

Whoopie Pies are considered a New England phenomenon and a Maine dessert favorite. Labadie's Bakery has been in the same location since 1925 in an area of Lewiston Maine called "little Canada".   The bakery is still open and now also offers an online option for ordering at WhoopiePies.com. Check out their website for a delicious assortment of pastries and whoopie pies. Click on the 16" whoopie cake (available on their website) above to be taken to their website.