Reflections

It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.  ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Saturday Simplify

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths. ~ Etty Hillesum

Friday Food Feature

I recently saw this cute little DIY indoor grill for s'mores posted on Ohdeedoh I thought I would repost. Click on the link under the photo to be taken to their blog for instructions on making your own indoor s'more grill.

via Ohdeedoh

My S'mores Recipe Suggestion:

Substitute European digestive cookies for chocolate and graham cracker. Yummy!

Digestive cookies are imported from the UK and can generally be found in the local grocery store in the imported foods section. Enjoy! Other S'more ideas from Apartment Therapy.

Thinking Green

I don't really use dryer sheets but if you do here is a great pdf from Curbly for alternative uses for dryer sheets. Click on the link below the photo to be taken to their blog where you can "like" them and download the information.

Curbly alternative uses for dryer sheets pdf

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

collections by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Live Your Passion

Monday Musings - Destination: SOWA Boston

Sundays, May – October, 10AM –4:00  460 Harrison Ave, Boston

Last weekend while visiting my son and his girlfriend in Cambridge, I was finally able to check out SoWa Open Market in Boston. SoWa is a market only open on Sundays (May-October) in one of my favorite Boston neighborhoods - the South End. (Did you know the South End is North American's largest extant Victorian Residential District?) The market offers a wonderful assortment of artisan booths, farmers market, food trucks and a fabulous upscale vintage market.

I particularly love perusing traditional flea markets and vintage shops, so was very excited to explore SoWa Vintage Market.  Since it was at least 95 degrees outside, I was thrilled to be inside the loft styled brick space that houses the eclectic finds of all the Vintage shops. 

I truly appreciated the huge fans which created a wonderful breeze and kept us cool as we shopped. There was a nice mix of furniture and other home decor pieces, as well as art, retro fashions, jewelry and so much more. 

The space is laid out very well with plenty of room for walking through the various vendor spaces, so you even though it was quite busy I didn't feel crowded.

The way it all works is SoWa Vintage Market operates inside during SoWa Sundays and SoWa Open Market, consisting of artisans, sell their wonderful creations outside in tents. 

SoWa Open Market Sundays operates until it gets chilly in October.  SoWa Vintage Market, is an independent collaborator (co created by Stephanie Pernice & John Warren), operates inside on Sundays until December 18th. They close for the Holidays but intend to operate a winter market twice a month in 2012. In May SoWa Vintage opens again weekly along with SoWa Open Market with the Artisan Tents. 

For further information, check out their website here: SoWa Vintage Market and Sowa Vintage on Facebook

Reflections

I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love. ~ Mother Teresa

Saturday Simplify

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. ~ Ovid

contemporary bedroom design by photographer Elad Gonen & Zeev Beech

Happy 24th Birthday John

If  by Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you  Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;  If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,  But make allowance for their doubting too;  If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,  Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,  Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,  And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;  If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;  If you can meet with triumph and disaster  And treat those two imposters just the same;  If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken  Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,  Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,  And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings  And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,  And lose, and start again at your beginnings  And never breath a word about your loss;  If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew  To serve your turn long after they are gone,  And so hold on when there is nothing in you  Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on"; If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,  Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;  If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;  If all men count with you, but none too much;  If you can fill the unforgiving minute  With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -  Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,  And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son! Happy Birthday John -  You have become a man, my son.  I am so proud of you and will love you forever  ♥  Mom

Thinking Green

I really don't enjoy grocery shopping so I love this new grocery shopping idea coming out of Korea. The concept saves time, gas and probably money since there would be less impulse shopping. You shop via smart-phones via codes and it is delivered to your door at the end of the day. Works for me. I hope it becomes available in the states sometime soon. Here is the Youtube video:

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Dog Day Afternoon by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasures

As many of you know I live in Maine and have to admit I love all four seasons (I wasn't always fond of winter). I found a wonderful shop on Etsy, Maine Art owned by Maine artist Laura Tasheiko. Her art features mostly nature scenes in Maine and are all original paintings rather than prints. Click on the links below the photos below to be taken to her shop to see the rich colors of each season and why I love living in this gorgeous state. 

Maine Spring River

Maine Summer Island Home

Maine Autumn Blueberries

Monday Musings

This rendition of Swan Lake by the Chinese State Circus took my breath away - just amazing:

Reflections

‎Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations. ~ Paramahansa Yogananda

Photo via http://www.power-of-giving.com/

Saturday Simplify

As a child I read and treasured the Winnie the Pooh book series. Even then I admired the simplicity and carefree existence that seem to reside in the hundred acre wood. Well, at least from Pooh's perspective as he always seem to bring calm to the group with his wonderfully simplistic view of life. Apparently yesterday was the release date for the new Pooh adventure movie in the Hundred Acre Wood. I think I might have to enjoy being six once again!

Viva la Bastille!

Thinking Green

This is an ingenious and very chic bird feeder (or in my case a chipmunk/squirrel feeder),  created from a recycled globe light shade from a ceiling fan. If you can't find one at Goodwill they are quite inexpensive to purchase new from your local home center. Check out the original post, complete with instructions via The Art of Doing Stuff.  (image from The Art of Doing Stuff - great blog).

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Heart rock by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasures

I love the mixed media and collage of Danny Phillips Art on Etsy. The color, textures and whimsy are so very appealing. Here are a few pieces I especially like (since they depict scenes of Maine). Click on the captions under the photos to be taken to his shop on Etsy.

Lively Lives

100% Chance of Sun Showers

Nubble Lighthouse

Monday Musings - Creative Summer Fun with PVC pipe

When my sons were younger, summer was a time for kicking back and relaxing with rainy days spent reading or writing stories. They also had boundless energy which led them to participate in tennis and soccer camp, lots of swimming, beach-combing, camping, visiting nature preserves and museums, participating in local theater and whatever else suited their mood. I was always on the lookout for an outlet for all that creative energy. I read this post recently on Ohdeedoh and it instantly reminded me of the days they created swords with PVC pipe, plumbing insulation and duck tape. They and their friends would be entertained for days pretending to be Knights. We would have especially appreciated the movie screen as a finale to the dozens of nights spent outside around a fire-pit after a round of manhunt! Click on the link below the photo or here to be taken to the original post: "A dozen things you can make with PVC Pipe".

via Ohdeedoh

Reflections

To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself. --Thich Nhat Hanh

Saturday Simplify

Remember life is like sound...it is ephemeral. Relish the moment.

via Fine Art America

Friday Food Feature

I bought a quesadilla maker a few years back and we use it at least once a week for veggie quesadillas. They are perfect for summer's bounty of veggies from the garden and they also won't heat up the house.

Veggie and Cheese Quesadillas

I like using fresh veggies but you can use whatever you enjoy. You can include meat if you wish. We generally use:

Tomatoes, onion, green, red, yellow peppers, cilantro and black olives.

Mexican cheddar cheese

whole wheat tortillas

butter 

Veggies

Butter tortillas on both sides and grill.

Serve with sour cream, guacamole, and a side salad - Yum! 

Thinking Green

 Aphids are death to many a plant in the garden. Ladybugs are ideal for eliminating the problem as they love to chow on those tiny pests (remember The Grouchy Ladybug story by Eric Carle).  There are a few other organic solutions if you have an aphid problem in your garden. I always companion plant zinnias and marigolds which insects seem to dislike. Another solution could be to spray your plants with a bit of soapy water. Aphids do not seem to enjoy this type of bath. Happy gardening!

photo via renest

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Provincetown Sunset ~ Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasures

Summer in Maine - there is nothing like it! Beautiful warm days with blue skies, followed by an light evening shower. Okay, so lately we have had more rainy days but July is almost here and I am optimistic we shall have more sunshine than rain in the days to follow. I found of few photographic prints from a shop on Etsy - "Love Paris".  Many of the photos remind me of all the things I love about summer in Maine on the coast. Click here to be taken to her shop.

Monday Musings

Happy 4th of July!!!

Reflections

Purity by Amy Fose

Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.   Mahatma Gandhi

Saturday Simplify

All you can control is your reaction to the circumstances in your life.

image via 3quarksdaily

Friday Food Feature

Maine Summer Potato Salad

6 medium red Maine Potatoes, cubed

3/4 c diced celery

1 1/2 c broccoli florets, small pieces

3/4 c blanched green beans

1/2 c cauliflower, cut small

1/2 c red pepper

Dressing:

1/4 c favorite Italian dressing

1/2 c low fat or regular mayo

2 tsp. dry ranch dressing

salt and pepper to taste

Cook Potatoes - cool, add all other ingredients. Cover and chill. Makes 10 servings.