Simple Living

Friday Food Feature ~

Strawberry Basil Sparkler

2 strawberries
5 basil leaves
1 ounce vodka
5 ounces sparkling water
1 handful ice

Slice the strawberry thinly and tear the basil leaves into large pieces
Stack the ice, strawberries, and basil leaves evenly in a tall glass - in alternating layers for maximum prettiness.
Rub a piece of basil leaf around the rim of the glass.
Pour the vodka over the ice, strawberries, and basil leaves.
Top off the drink with approx 5 oz of sparkling water.

recipe and photo via

My French Find ~

Cara Mia Vintage has some fantastic, over the top French finds! Hailing from down under in New South Wales, this vintage fashion boutique has a carefully curated selection of high quality designer vintage clothing. 'Cara Mia' means 'my beloved' in Italiano and as their website explains, is 'bestowed on treasured objects of affection'.  You can find them online. Here are a few of my favorite pieces from their shop: 

Alaia tank dress

vintage Chanel earrings

Lolita Lempicka sunglasses

Nina Ricci Necklace

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

solo at sunset by Denise Dion-Sullivan

In the Studio -

Minka - 民家, literally means the "house of the people" and are private residences constructed in any one of several traditional Japanese building styles usually built with natural materials. Farmers, artisans, and merchants generally lived in these homes which were known for their artistic beauty.

Minka also happens to be a wonderful gallery near my home town in Kennebunkport, Maine. This boutique features locally made art, accessories and gifts. Artisan couple, Michelle and Christopher Larochelle, design and create many of the unique items in the shop. They also invite a select group of  local artists, crafters and tradesman in helping them 'construct the Minka vision'.  I was very excited when contacted by this creative pair to be apart of their unique boutique. I will be selling some keychains and jewelry (featured as sea trinkets on their website) from my shop - Denise Dion Designs. I am looking forward to working with them and encourage you to visit their shop when in Kennebunkport or go online at Minkahome. You can also 'like' them on facebook or visit their blog. 

Monday Musings ~

A very random Monday post of 50 interesting, albeit a bit strange, list of facts I found on the worldwide web:

1. Actor Tommy Lee Jones and former vice-president Al Gore were freshman roommates at Harvard.
2. Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
3. All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
4. All of the clocks in the movie "Pulp Fiction" are stuck on 4:20.
5. All porcupines float in water.
6. Almonds are a member of the peach family.
7. Almost a quarter of the land area of Los Angeles is taken up by automobiles.
8. America once issued a 5-cent bill.
9. America's first nudist organization was founded in 1929, by 3 men.
10. Ancient Egyptians slept on pillows made of stone.
11. An animal epidemic is called an epizootic.
12. An average person laughs about 15 times a day.
13. An iguana can stay under water for 28 minutes.
14. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
15. Armadillos are the only animal besides humans that can get leprosy.
16. Armadillos have four babies at a time and they are always all the same sex.
17. Armored knights raised their visors to identify themselves when they rode past their king. This custom has become the modern military salute.
18. Aztec emperor Montezuma had a nephew, Cuitlahac, whose name meant "plenty of excrement."
19. Babe Ruth wore a cabbage leaf under is cap to keep him cool. He changed it every 2 innings.
20. Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2-6 years of age.
21. Baby robins eat 14 feet of earthworms every day.
22. Back in the mid to late 1980's, an IBM-compatible computer wasn't considered a hundred percent compatible unless it could run Microsoft's Flight Simulator.
23. Bank robber John Dillinger played professional baseball.
24. Barbie's measurements if she were life size: 39-23-33.
25. Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.
26. Ben and Jerry's send the waste from making ice cream to local pig farmers to use as feed. Pigs love the stuff, except for one flavor: Mint Oreo.
27. Bird droppings are the chief export of Nauru, an island nation in the Western Pacific.
28. Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created especially for Ronald Reagan.
29. Bubble gum contains rubber.
30. Camel's milk does not curdle.
31. Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand.
32. Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village".
33. Cat's urine glows under a blacklight.
34. Cats can produce over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs can only produce about ten.
35. Charles Lindbergh took only four sandwiches with him on his famous transatlantic flight.
36. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
37. Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them use to burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired."
38. Cleo and Caesar were the early stage names of Cher and Sonny Bono.
39. Columbia University is the second largest landowner in New York City, after the Catholic Church.
40. David Prowse was the guy in the Darth Vader suit in Star Wars. He spoke all of Vader's lines, and didn't know that he was going to be dubbed over by James Earl Jones until he saw the screening of the movie.
41. Did you know that there are coffee flavored PEZ?
42. Dogs and cats consume almost $7 billion worth of pet food a year.
43. Dolphins sleep with one eye open.
44. Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants.
45. Dr. Samuel A. Mudd was the physician who set the leg of Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth... and whose shame created the expression for ignominy, "His name is Mudd."
46. Dr. Seuss pronounced "Seuss" such that it rhymed with "rejoice."
47. "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt."
48. Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors.
49. During your lifetime, you'll eat about 60,000 pounds of food, that's the weight of about 6 elephants.
50. According to a British law passed in 1845, attempting to commit suicide was a capital offense. Offenders could be hanged for trying.

Reflections ~

The Creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.  ~ Alan Alda

Simple Living

Friday Food Feature

Delicious Oatmeal Blueberry Breakfast Bars

1 c whole wheat flour
3/4 c brown sugar (firmly packed)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c unsalted butter (cold and cut into small cubes)
2 1/2 c quick oats
2 tbsps apple juice
1/4 c brown sugar (firmly packed)
2 tbsps whole wheat flour
3 1/2 c fresh blueberries
1 tbsp lemon juice

•  Heat oven to 375, grease a 9x13 pan.
• For the crust/topping: Add flour, brown sugar, and salt to bowl of food processer. Pilse once or twice to combine, add butter, then pulse five to six more times until course crumbs form. Add the oats and pulse three or four more times.
• Remove 1 1/2 cups of the mixture and set aside. Add the apple juice to the remaining mixture and pulse three or four more times until it is just moistened. Press this mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of the pan.
•  For the filling: Whisk together sugar and flour in a medium sized bowl. Add the fruit and lemon juice and gently toss with a rubber spatula until the fruit is coated. Distribute the filling over the crust.
• Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the filling.
•  Bake the dish until the top is golden, about 35 to 40 minutes.
•  Let the pan cool on wire rack for a few hours and then cut the sheet into 16 bars. Store in an airtight container in your fridge.

My French Find ~ A French Inspired Wedding ~

In America, June is one of the most popular months for weddings. Today I am featuring items from shops on Etsy  that incorporate French inspired details for that special day. Click on the captions below the photos to be taken to the shops:

rschone

Erica Elizabeth Design

SolBijou

Laura Preshong

Toris Custom Creations

Fairy Land Bazaar

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

summer skies by Denise Dion-Sullivan

In the Studio - Treasury Tuesday

This treasury, entitled 'Fleur de lis and Me', features a variety of Etsy artists and is curated by Fleur de Lisa Studio. Thank you Lisa for featuring my French Necklace from my jewelry shop 'Simple Little Thing'. I am also a lover of all things French! Click on any of the boxes to be taken to the Etsy shops featured in this très chic treasury: 

Monday Musings ~

New week, new beginnings! I found a 'Free Positive Thoughts' tear sheet via Kind over Matter. Click on the caption below the image to be taken to the original post for download of the pdf and enjoy your week by spreading some positivity! 

Kind Over Matter

Happy Father's Day ~

It is a wise Father that knows his own child.

- William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice

Simple Living

Friday Food Feature

Berry Season is coming upon us and I found this tip via Food Lush that I thought was worth sharing. As soon as you get back from picking berries, or the farmer's market, prep a mixture of one part vinegar and ten parts water. Carefully place the berries into the mixture and swirl to clean. Drain, lightly rinse with water and pop in the fridge. The secret is that the vinegar kills the mold spores that might be living on the surface of the fruit and also helps keep the berries fresh. Happy Picking!

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

My French Find

Love these Vintage French Finds from Dandelion Daydreamer on Etsy. All shipped directly from France!  I love her huge selection of handbags. Click on caption beneath the photos to visit her shop!

Pret-a-Picnic 

Leather Satchel

His or Hers Chestnut Briefcase

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Nubble Light by Denise Dion-Sullivan

In the Studio - Treasury Tuesday

Fantastic treasury today from Gyngert on Etsy entitled 'Wish Upon A Starfish'. Thank you for featuring my detailed starfish keychain from my jewelry shop 'Denise Dion Designs'. Love that summer is finally here and we might even catch a glimpse of one of these by the shore. Click on any of the boxes to be taken to the Etsy shops: 

Monday Musings

Reflections

“What day is it?" asked Pooh.
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.
- A. A. Milne

Simple Living ~

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. ~ Buddha

modern artwork design by furniture and accessories Z Gallerie

Friday Food Feature

Fricassée De Poulet ~ Chicken Fricassee with Cream

• 2 T butter and 2 T olive oil
• 1 peeled and chopped onion
• 2 cloves of minced garlic 
• 1 1/2 pounds of bite sized pieces chicken breasts
• 1/2 tsp pepper and salt
• 3 T flour
• 1 c water
• 1/2 c white wine
• 1/2 pound mushrooms, cleaned and sliced 1/4 inch
• 3 medium carrots, julienne
• 3 T chopped fresh tarragon
• 1/2 c crème fraîche 

Melt the butter and olive oil together in a Dutch oven on medium heat. Add the onion and  garlic cooking for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken and brown on all sides - about 4-5 minutes. Stir in salt and pepper.

Sprinkle the top of the chicken with the flour and stir for 1 minute, thoroughly coating the chicken. Stir in water with wine and mushrooms, carrots and tarragon. Bring to a low boil, cover and simmer on medium low heat for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are slightly tender.  Take off the heat and stir in the crème fraîche. Serve hot over favorite pasta or rice.

watercolor by Kate Osborne

My French Find

Blue Bird Lane

I love old vintage prints and postcards. In fact I have an obsession with old French postcards. I found these tags on Etsy which were inspired and created from Vintage French Postcards. What a lovely final touch on a gift for someone special. Visit the shop BlueBirdLane by clicking on the caption below the photo.

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

hello Boston by Denise Dion-Sullivan

In the Studio -

For the past six weeks I've been taking a Metalsmithing & Jewelry class taught by talented Rachel Flaherty, at Warg Enamel & Tool Center in nearby Scarborough. It's been great as I have learned a few new techniques such as open backed bezels. I think this will be especially helpful with some of the new sea glass and beach stone designs I've been working on. I created this open back ring during the last two classes. The stone was generously given to me by a fellow classmate, Richard, who also happens to be a very knowledgeable geologist.

Richard cut this gorgeous bluish stone himself and explained it is called 'sapphire of the ancient' or Lapis lazuli and is a rock of metamorphic origin.

I was completely intrigued by the 'sapphire of the ancient' so did a bit of 'digging' on the internet and discovered it's storied history. Apparently Egyptian cultures buried a lapis lazuli scarab shaped stone with their dead as they believed it offered protection and symbolized truth. 

Other early cultures, such as the Greeks spoke of this ancient sapphire and considered it of equal value to gold. Some also believed that dreaming of lapis lazuli would 'foretell love that would be forever faithful'. It is a gorgeous stone with color that reminds me of looking down at the earth from space. Overall I am very pleased with the result.  Thanks Richard - you are a very kind and generous soul! 

Monday Musings

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. - Lindley Karstens

  

I planted my garden a few weekends ago. I have two raised beds and several pots so although it's not a huge garden, it is enough to keep my food budget supplemented through part of the summer and fall. 

I planted yellow and green zucchini, spaghetti squash, pea pods, peppers, bush beans - in a rainbow of colors, spinach, leeks, pumpkins and gords. I also have a potted herb garden with thyme, oregano, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, basil and of course, lavender.  

I am really looking forward to July when if all goes well, I will begin harvesting my bounty. What did you plant this year?

photos are of watercolors done by artist Melissa Sweet, In the French Kitchen Garden by Georgeanne Brennan

Reflections

"The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure." Mikhail Baryshnikov

Simple Living

It's not time we lack, it's focus. Lama Surya Das; Buddha Standard Time

Friday Food Feature

One of my favorite breads, slathered while warm with fresh butter or raspberry jam! Yum!

1 c White Flour

3 c Wheat Flour

1 T Dry Active Yeast

1-2 t Salt

2 c Warm Water

Oiled bowl

• In a bowl, mix together the flours and the salt.
• In another bowl, combine yeast, warm water, and half of the flour with salt mixture. Using your hands, mix until forms a dough. Cover with a cloth dish towel and sit at room temperature for 3 hours. It should triple in size.
• Again using your hands, gently incorporate the rest of the flour with salt.
• Place on a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes.
• Lightly oil a bowl then place dough in bowl. Cover with a dish towel. Let sit for 1 hour. It should double in size.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Knead again. Then cut dough into 3 parts and form each part into a long baguette. Place on a baking sheet. Let sit for at least 20 minutes.
• Place a bowl of water in the oven. Bake baguettes for about 25 minutes or less checking so they don't brown too much. Remove the bowl of water after 15 minutes of baking. Bon Appétit!

photo from Country Living