On the Homefront: A Difficult Time

Our loved one's favorite flowers (from The Sarang Shop).

I have been home for two weeks now, but it has been a difficult time.  My sister is doing well, and I arrived in Georgia on August 13th as planned.  The very next day my sister called me with news of a terrible tragedy which I am not up to describing at the moment other than to say that we lost a beloved family member.  I flew out the next day for a family gathering but had to return the following day as my husband was about to leave for a trip to China.  I have been extremely busy catching up with two months worth of neglected chores, and all of the activity keeps me from thinking too much about our family's loss.  I plan to resume blogging in the near future.  I am not sure when this will happen, but hopefully I will be back soon.  Take care, everyone, and be sure to cherish loved ones while you can.
               

On the Homefront: Heading for Home!

From SecretNYC

Now that my sister is well on the way to recovery, very early Saturday morning I will be leaving New York and making the return drive home to Georgia.  I should get back by Sunday, barring any unforeseen circumstances.  I will be away from my blog for a while, as once I get home I will spend the next week getting caught up on sadly neglected chores.  Then my two brothers will be coming down to Georgia the following weekend so that we can all go to a nearby prime viewing site for the upcoming eclipse.  After that I should be back to blogging again, so I will see you then!
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Buy Your Very Own Lighthouse!

Minneapolis Shoal Light (Michigan)

Do you love lighthouses?  Have you ever wanted to own one yourself?  Well, you may just be able to make your wish come true!  The federal government is auctioning off six out-of-commission lighthouses, ranging in price from $10,000 to $27,000, and the bidding so far has been slow.  One is located in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, and the other five are in Michigan.  The lighthouses all sit on concrete bases, are surrounded by water, and are only accessible by boat.  They are being sold "as is" and will need quite a bit of renovation to make them habitable.  However, at those prices, someone who has always dreamed of owning a lighthouse and who is handy and resourceful just may be able to create the perfect aquatic getaway from one of these little "diamonds in the rough"!

Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Light Station (Maryland)

Don't wait too long to decide, though, as the bidding for the lighthouse shown at the top of the page closes in just a few days, while the one shown directly above is off the market in mid-September.  End of bidding for the rest is to be determined, which means they could become unavailable at any time, so get your bid in quickly if you are determined to buy!

Poe Reef Lighthouse (Michigan)

Detroit River Lighthouse (Michigan)

Lansing Shoal Light (Michigan)

Fourteen Foot Shoal Light (Michigan)

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Happy (light)house hunting!

                

Wish List Wednesdays: Shades of Rust at Coldwater Creek

From National Park Service

The colors of autumn are slowly beginning to creep into apparel options as the end of summer approaches (although never fast enough for me!).  Two of my favorite hues, olive and rust, are a little easier to find right now, especially the former.  I concentrated on the latter at Coldwater Creek, and found a few top layers that I would not mind owning:

1) Optic Art Sweater ($129.95) - I love the loose, flowing fit and raglan kimono sleeves of this cotton/acrylic/wool blend sweater, as well as the artfully arranged color blocks of warm-colored stripes.

2) Mixed Tones Sweater in Blue Multi ($89.95-99.95) - denim blue and rust, like the stripes in this sweater, are colors that are made for each other in my opinion, and this soft marled-yarn pullover in a cotton blend would be perfect with jeans.

3) Owl About You Tunic (on sale for $59.95-69.95) - this rayon challis tunic with the cute owl print has me thinking it is time to add these adorable avians to my wardrobe ASAP!

Autumn and its associated warm muted color palette can't come quickly enough as far as I am concerned!
             

Weekend Wardrobe: Accessories for Elegantly Exotic 4x4 Wradrobe

Last week's elegant and exotic 4x4 wardrobe featuring the colorful tiger print top just cries out for bold accessories.  Let's start with the jewelry, as I went a bit wild with the tiger theme here!

Clockwise from top left: jtopolski Tiger Pendant Necklace in Gold; Forzieri Kenzo Mini Tiger Earrings in Gold; Amanda Rose Blue Tigers Eye Bracelets; Forzieri Kenzo Gold Plated Tiger Necklace; Forzieri Kenzo Mini Tiger Bracelet in Gold; Scully and Scully Halcyon Days Tiger Push On Bangle in Black.

Three scarves featuring tiger prints and a bright blue one complement this wardrobe well:

Clockwise from top left: Hermès Tyger Tyger Silk Twill Scarf in Blue/Green/Light Red; Bows-N-Ties Women's Scarf in Azure Blue; vibrantscarves Tiger Print Chiffon Scarf; Coggles Kenzo Oversize Tiger Bandana in Blue.

A bright marigold yellow bag adds a splash of bright color while the other three neutral-colored bags coordinate with everything in this collection of apparel:

Clockwise from top left: Michael Kors Studio Mercer Medium Leather Messenger Bag in Marigold Yellow/Gold; Coach Smooth Leather Phone Crossbody Bag in Light Gold/Black; Gilt Botkier Bowery Leather Tote in Chalk; Tory Burch Block-T Mini Leather Satchel in Black.

All four of the featured colors for the 4x4 wardrobe are represented in the selected shoes:

Clockwise from top left: Rialto Celina Wedge Heels in Marigold Suedette; Softspots Neima Slingback Heels in White; Söfft 'Altessa' Pumps in Black/Black Leather; Marc Fisher LTD 'Sunny' Half d'Orsay Flats in Cobalt Suede.

As an added bonus, a warm coat for fall in the right color scheme (but different feline print!) just happens to be available:

House of Fraser Biba Leopard Abstract 60s Style Faux Fur Coat

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By the way, if tigers are your favorite felid, check out the new arrivals at J. Crew featuring tiger prints here.  The coming week will be very busy for me as I prepare for my trip back to Georgia, so I will probably not to be posting. I may also have to take the following week off as I catch up with all the chores at home that have been neglected in my absence (I have two month's worth of mowing to look forward to upon my return!).  I will be back here as soon as possible, so take it easy during these dog days of summer and I will return when I can!
               

Foodie Fridays: My Sister's Guacamole

From Agave

When it comes to making guacamole, I prefer the minimalist approach, which means I simply mash up some avocados and add nothing else!  My sister prefers a more complicated concoction (a variation of the guacamole recipe here) which she made for us one weekend, and I have to admit that it is very good.  If you are looking for a tasty guacamole recipe similar to something you would find in a Mexican restaurant, give this one a try.  The best thing about this dish is that it can sit in the fridge, well covered, for up to a day and still taste pretty good, which is more than I can say for just plain mashed avocados!

My Sister's Guacamole

3 avocados, pitted, peeled, and diced
1 lime, juiced
1 tsp. salt (or to taste)
1/2 C. minced onion
3 T. minced cilantro
1 Roma tomato, seeded and finely diced
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 T. minced jalapeño pepper (optional but highly recommended)

In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice, and salt (make it as smooth or chunky as you like).  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Refrigerate for at least one hour for best flavor, but can be served immediately.  Serves 4.
             

This 'n That Thursdays: I Love Lists!

From Gruntled Employees

I have mentioned in a past post that I love online quizzes, but now I have another confession to make - I love online lists!  I especially like the ones that tell you what to choose based on your personality traits.  I don't always agree with them, but I do enjoy reading about what I am supposed to like and deciding if the list is correct in my case.  Below are four lists that you too may find interesting if you are a list-lover like me:

1) Best Workouts for You Based on Your Personality - find out the best type of exercise for you if you are easily bored, a Type A, analytical, an over thinker, introverted, or an extrovert.  I think the best fit for me would be the solo introvert option, since I do tend to be self-motivated and not especially interested in belonging to a gym.

2) How to Know (and Shop for) Your Fashion Personality - four main style personalities are listed (expressive, romantic, classic, and relaxed), as well as the types of preferred apparel and even a number of best sources for each style of clothing.  No doubt about it, the relaxed style personality describes me perfectly!

From Homesthetics

3) What Interior Style Best Suits Your Personality - ten personalities are described in four words, and one particular design style is ascribed to each personality.  For this list, it is possible to have more than one design personality, and in fact you are told that this is normal, so I was not surprised to find my own characteristics in four different categories.  I am modern, contemporary, Scandinavian, and minimal when it comes to interior design, a look that I think is exemplified in the image above.

Elizabeth Taylor as Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew (1967)
(from Margaret Perry).

4) 8 Shakespeare Plays You Need to Read, Based on Your Favorite Movie - this is certainly one of the most unique lists that I found!  Eight different movies are linked to eight different Shakespeare plays, and you choose the play you would enjoy most based upon which of these movies is your favorite.  I now have another confession to make - I have never been a fan of most playwrights, and Shakespeare in particular.  I find his plays to be dated and out of touch with our modern times.  However, I have to admit that, if I must choose one, it would probably be The Taming of the Shrew, despite the rather annoyingly condescending attitude concerning women, just because it is funny and Katherina does have her moments before she is forced to acquiesce to convention.  I did like the associated movie Moonstruck (1987), but of the movies on the list I would have to say my favorite is the comedy Practical Magic (1998), and I know I find the associated tragedy MacBeth to be a depressing play, so I do not think this list really worked for me.

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Check out these lists if you have a little spare time, and see how well they work for you!

                

Wish List Wednesdays: I'm Feeling Crabby Today!

From Wikimedia Commons

This is a particularly busy week for me, as I continue to take my sister to various doctor appointments while preparing for my departure at the end of next week.  My crazy schedule has put me in the mood for something crabby today, and I've found a few crustacean-themed items that are just perfect!  For some reason I am drawn to orange crab décor and apparel lately.  Did you know that Vincent Van Gogh is alleged to have said that "Orange is the color of insanity"?  I suppose that may explain a lot!  Nevertheless, here are my most recent crabby finds:

1) Wimberly Inc. Aqua Crab Cuff Bracelet ($44) - this crab is gold, not orange, but that's close enough, and I love the aqua color of this cuff bracelet!

2) Cottage & Bungalow Orange Crab Beach Tote ($119) - now these crabs are an honest-to-goodness orange color!  This durable and generously-sized cotton canvas bag has leather handles and a contrasting striped cotton interior lining with three storage pockets.  It is also available in a navy and red color option.

3) Bed Bath & Beyond Bungalow Flooring Crab Hooked Accent Runner ($70.99) - a durable indoor 52x22-inch runner with an anti-fade finish and slip-resistant neoprene backer, plus a vibrant orange crab print!

4) Woodard & Charles 8-inch Crab Plates (set of four on sale for $21.99) - the sale price makes these cute crab design stoneware salad plates an especially appealing purchase, and I really like the blue rim detail.

If you are also having a crabby sort of day, perhaps one of these decapod delights will pique your fancy!