Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Chihuly at the MFA by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasures

It's that time of year again! Back to school and all the preparatory shopping that goes with it. I found a few things on Etsy that would be so très hip for the first day of classes.

From Pipers Crossing - Medallion Tapestry Backpack

Bird in the woods necklace from LouisesArt

Lit Knits Skinny Knit Tie

Retro Typewriter Moleskine by iMoleskine

Monday Musings

To all my creative friends out there (and myself) who are entrepreneurs. This quote is a helpful reminder for those days when feeling a bit frustrated or discouraged running your own business.

Reflections

So much of what is best in us is bound up in our love of family, that it remains the measure of our stability because it measures our sense of loyalty. All other pacts of love or fear derive from it and are modeled upon it. ~ Poet Haniel Long 

Saturday Simplify

Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas. Believing, is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.

Friday Food Feature

So the old adage "An Apple a day keeps the Doctor away" may be true. According to new animal research, a substance found in apple peel promotes muscle growth, reduces fat, blood sugar levels, cholesterol and triglycerides. The study, "Apple Peel Makes Mice Mighty" was conducted at the University of Iowa, also suggested that the ursolic acid in the peel could be used in treating metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Researchers at the University of Iowa now hope to take the research up a notch with human trials.  It's almost Fall and Apple season here in the Northeast. You won't have to do much convincing for me to partake of a daily red!

Thinking Green

Check out this slide show on Eco-friendly water bottles at Women's Day.com.

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Garden of Glass photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

College in a box! Casulo has created the quickest, easiest (no tools) and most streamlined "room" set up I have ever seen. Might be perfect for students traveling long distances to college or for those who just want to keep it simple.

original post via Apartment Therapy

Monday Musings

COLOR FACT: Did you know that flamingos are not naturally pink. They apparently hatch with grey plumage and then turn a shade ranging from light pink to bright red due to aqueous bacteria and beta carotene obtained from their food supply – mostly from eating brine shrimp. 

Reflections

‎Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive ~  Dalai Lama

Saturday Simplify

Stop living life for what's around the corner and start enjoying the walk down the road.

photo by B. Anthony Stewart

Friday Food Feature - Fruit Ices

Not exactly the end of summer yet! Try these delicious ices I found on the website Epicurious to cool off on the hot August afternoons.

• Watermelon Ice
• 2 1/2 cups 1/2-inch cubes seeded watermelon (from 2-pound piece)
• 1/4 cup sugar

• 8 5-ounce disposable paper cups
• 8 ice pop sticks or wooden coffee stirrers

Lemon ice

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blueberry ice

• 2 cups fresh blueberries (from three 1/2-pint containers)
• 1 cup water
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 
  
• For watermelon ice:
  Blend watermelon and sugar in processor until smooth. Strain puree into bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much fruit as possible.
  Place cups in shallow baking pan. Spoon watermelon puree into cups, dividing equally (scant 3 tablespoons each). Freeze until mixture is almost frozen, about 2 hours. Cover cups with rounds of foil, sealing tightly at edges. Using tip of small knife, make 1/4-inch slit in center of each foil cover. Push ice pop stick through slit and securely into watermelon ice without hitting bottom of cup. Freeze until watermelon ice is solid, about 1 hour longer.
  For lemon ice:
  Bring 1/2 cup water and sugar to boil in heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Mix in lemon juice, orange juice, and vanilla. Cool to room temperature.
  Place pan with frozen pops on work surface; carefully fold back foil over each cup without dislodging stick. Spoon lemonade into cups, dividing equally (scant 3 tablespoons each). Reseal foil. Freeze until lemonade layer is solid, about 2 hours.
  For blueberry ice:
  Stir blueberries, 1 cup water, and sugar in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Boil until berries are very soft, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Strain mixture into small bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much fruit as possible. Mix in lemon juice. Cool to room temperature.
  Place pan with frozen pops on work surface; carefully fold back foil over each cup without dislodging stick. Spoon blueberry mixture into cups, dividing equally (generous 3 tablespoons each). Reseal foil. Freeze until pops are frozen solid, about 8 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.)
  Remove foil, then tear or use scissors to cut cup off each pop; return ice pops to pan and freeze until ready to serve.

Thinking Green

Patagonia is a company that believes in reducing waste and recycling as a means of  keeping our environment clean. They have a program called Patagonia Common Threads Initiative.  All you have to do is ship all Patagonia or other brand Polartec fleece garments to their company's service center and they will recycle these old fabrics into new clothing. Just click on this link to learn more about how to reduce, repair and reuse: Common Threads Initiative.

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

"Lucky" by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday Treasures

Justin Beever is such a phenomenal talent - just watch for yourself and tell me what you think:
This video shows a variety of his work:

Monday Musings

The next few weeks will be a time of saying goodbye for many families with their children going off to college. I'll have to admit from my experience it is a time of many mixed emotions from a parents point of view. I'm glad both of my sons are under 2 hours away so for now I get to see them more often.  It makes the whole "empty nest" thing so much easier.

For many teens, High School can be a difficult time. For several reasons, I personally couldn't wait to get out of high school and create my own path in life. I felt this so intensely that I finished high school in three years.  We all have our own story to tell as our lives and experiences can be so varied. So often we have no idea what some people endure, as we live in a world where it seems we are so often focused only on ourselves.

A friend posted the following video on Facebook. It was created by a young woman, Kenna, whose story is unfortunately similar to many. However, I like the unique way she chose to silently "tell" her story.  I thought this video was creative and worth reposting in the event it might inspire and perhaps give hope to others who may be experiencing difficulty in their own lives. As Kenna, may they draw upon their inner strength and realize life can and will "get better".

Reflections

Giving up attachment to the world does not mean that you set yourself apart from it. Generating a desire for others to be happy increases your humanity. As you become less attached to the world, you become more humane. As the very purpose of spiritual practice is to help others, you must remain in society. ~ Dalai Lama

Saturday Simplify

When you are under pressure or stressed out, visualize an activity that induces calm, such as lying in the sun on the beach or in a hammock, or maybe taking a warm bath. 

Friday Food Feature

Simple Summer Squash Soup

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds summer squash, sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces
1 medium onion
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon curry powder
4 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
3-4 cups vegetable broth (depending on desired thickness)
Salt and pepper, to taste

In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and cook, stirring often, until just fragrant. Add the garlic and onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add sliced squash and cook until just softened, about 10 minutes.

Add curry powder and vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and, using a hand-blender or traditional blender and allow to cool before seasoning with salt and pepper.

Ladle into soup bowls to serve and garnish with flat parsley or cilantro if you'd like.

via the kitchn

Thinking Green

Certain Universities around the country are participating in Cotton. from Blue to Green Program.  This campaign, usually run through various universities with the help of their students is designed to educate fellow students that cotton is not only comfortable but also is a renewable and recyclable resource.  Participating students make an impact on the environment by recycling their jeans. For more information on the programs click on this link: Bluetogreen.

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

summer skies by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

Birds in flight fascinate me. I admire eagles and falcons. I’m inspired by a feather but also its color, its graphics, its weightlessness and its engineering. It’s so elaborate. In fact I try and transpose the beauty of a bird to women.—Alexander McQueen

Monday Musings

I saw these musical wine glasses in a shop online from the UK and thought they would be great fun! The graphics on the glasses contain the musical notations which correspond to the level of liquid in the glass and supposedly will accurately produce the correct note when a person runs their fingers along the rim of the glass. The website states a full set of 12 glasses will cover a complete octave on the keyboard. They suggest you fill (or drink) to appropriate mark to begin the liquid orchestra. Sounds like it could be great entertainment for your next dinner party or Sunday Brunch. You could order through the online shop in the UK - Luna & Curious or perhaps make your own set of glasses with a marker and see if you can create some harmonious sound!

Reflections

Whether the flower or the color is the focus I do not know. I do know the flower is painted large to convey my experience with the flower – and what is my experience if it is not the color? ~ Georgia O'Keeffe

Happy Birthday Lucy!

I grew up watching Lucille Ball's comedy shows. In my opinion she is a true genius and talent. I love this particular episode:

Saturday Simplify

I absolutely love the simplicity of this bedroom - especially their bucolic scene above the bed. With a view like that who needs art! post via StyleFiles.

Friday Food Feature

Spinach Egg Casserole

2 fresh eggs
1 Tablespoon fresh herbs of choice – I like herbs de Provence
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon crumbled feta cheese
1 Tablespoon ricotta cheese
2 Tablespoons half and half
Spinach 

1. Chop up your spinach and place them in the bottom of a small casserole dish. Pour the half and half over the spinach. 

2. Crack the two eggs and put them side by side over the greens.

3. Sprinkle the herbs over the eggs along with the salt and pepper. Sprinkle the cheese on top.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Let it cool just a bit and enjoy!

recipe found via Craft Leftovers(a great blog).

Thinking Green

According to the Council for Textile Recycling, Clothing accounts for 4% of all American landfill. I will devote the next three "Thinking Green" posts on ways to avoid contributing to this growing problem.


Nike is one company that has come up with a creative solution for keeping old sneakers out of the trash. Through the Nike Reuse a shoe Program  you can send all worn out athletic shoes of any brand to Nike and they will "Nike Grind" them into usable materials for sports surfaces like running tracks, tennis and basketball courts. Learn more by clicking on this link - Nike Grind or watching the video below:

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Still Life by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday Treasures

Smile Print 

This is Evan. I love his self portrait. The smile reflects a confident and happy child as does the photo of Evan below

Evan is the grandson of Patti, a fellow artist who has a shop on Etsy whose photography was featured here on my blog ~  Loves Paris. Evan was born with EHK, a very rare skin disorder caused by a genetic malfunction at conception. EHK or  Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis  is a form of ichthyosis  and is characterized by scaly, thick blistering skin which makes the child highly susceptible to infection or trauma. You can read more about it here on Patti's blog ~ Loves Paris.  The wonderful Smile Print above  is a poster drawn by Evan and is being sold in Patti's shop where 100% of the proceeds will go directly toward EHK Research. If you would like to purchase this wonderfully happy print simply click on the caption Smile Print and make a difference by contributing toward finding a cure for EHK!

Monday Musings

I found this video on Youtube of a local amusement park in Old Orchard Beach constructing a new ferris wheel. It reminds me of when my sons played with Tinker-toys only on a bit larger scale: