Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #20

A pop of color added to my garden.

Last week was my week for essentials shopping.  I went into town on Friday, and it was forecast to be a hot day.  I made sure I got into town as early as possible, and I wore a comfortable but cool outfit which included another new t-shirt from Old Navy.  I love their EveryWear Slub-Knit V-Neck Tees for hot days as they are lightweight and cool, but provide enough coverage in an air-conditioned store to keep me from getting chilly.  The v-neck of these shirts looks best with a shorter necklace, so I wore a short one from my collection which featured shell beads as well as a shell pendant:

The cognac-colored belt coordinates with my purse, but I decided to wear my dark brown boat shoes because they complement the dark brown beads of the necklace, and because they are very comfortable without socks.

Clockwise from top left: Old Navy Women's EveryWear Slub-Knit V-Neck Tee in Ancient Forest; Jacob Foster Designs Natural Sea Shell Necklace (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Sperry Women's A/O 2 Eye Boat Shoe in Dark Brown (similar to mine); Rachel Comey Norm Straight-Leg Jeans in Khaki (similar to my much less expensive pair); J. Crew Skinny Italian Leather Belt in Pecan (similar to mine).

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My zucchini seeds have sprouted!

In addition to buying groceries, I also purchased a few more items for gardening.  I am almost done with the plantings I wanted to do for this year.  I purchased quite a few inexpensive large and extra-large pots for herbs, and put some vegetable seeds and seedlings in the ground to see what would do well.  The zucchini and pumpkin seeds I planted have sprouted, and the tomato, eggplant, and pepper seedlings seem to be doing well so far.  The only problem I have had is mice eating my potted basil seedlings, so I bought another ever-so-slightly smaller pot to cover them at night and that seems to have solved the problem.

My pot of basil is flourishing now that the mouse problem has been resolved.

I did get one red geranium and a yellow daylily to add a bit of floral color to our smaller enclosed patio, but I do not really want to plant a lot of flowers yet - I am saving that phase of gardening for next year.  I do have some sunflower and marigold seeds and I will probably plant them, although I expect that mice will eat the sunflower seedlings (that happened when I tried to grow sunflowers in Colorado).  Oh well, we will see what happens, and if I do lose the sunflowers at least they were only seeds!  

Foodie Fridays: Quick Caprese Sandwich

I do love a good Caprese salad, but when fresh tomatoes and basil are in short supply I am happy to make myself this tasty Caprese sandwich instead.  For a recipe made with so few ingredients, this sandwich packs quite a flavor punch.  If you prefer, you can grill instead of microwave, but I actually think the microwaved version is better when made with a ciabatta roll.  I have been enjoying this sandwich for lunch or dinner a lot lately - it is so quick, easy, and tasty, and those are three qualities in a recipe that always appeal to me.  Why not treat yourself to this taste of summer on a plate?

Quick Caprese Sandwich

1 ciabatta roll
1-2 T. pesto
1 medium tomato, sliced
4 thin slices fresh mozzarella

Slice the ciabatta roll in half horizontally and place on a microwave-safe plate.  Spread both halves with the pesto.  Place two slices of the mozzarella on the bottom half of the roll.  Top with enough tomato slices to cover the cheese.  Put the remaining mozzarella on top of the tomato slices.  Cover with the top half of the roll.  Microwave the sandwich on HIGH for 60-80 seconds to melt the cheese.  Let the sandwich rest for about a minute before serving to allow the tomato slices to cool and the cheese to firm up.  Serves 1.
             

This 'n That Thursdays: It's the Little Things...

These two little sleeping beauties are of course most important when
it comes to getting through our sheltering in place days!

I have always felt that it would be the little things in life that would get me through the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during this lockdown phase.  Today I thought I would share a few of these little things that are giving me joy these days.  Some of them are purchases and some come courtesy of Mother Nature, but all are greatly appreciated!

I tend to be a creature of habit, and have been using the same functional but quite utilitarian white mug for my morning tea since I got to New Mexico last October.  Recently at a local supermarket I happened to find a slightly more interesting mug in a size and shape that are perfect for my needs, and I bought it on impulse.  I am so happy that I did, because even though it is a little thing I do look forward to using this new mug every morning!

A couple of months ago I found these inexpensive lightweight t-shirts at JCPenney and fell in love with the lobster and turtle prints.  I bought them in anticipation of warmer weather, and finally got to wear them last week.  These shirts are cool, comfortable, and fun to wear - just looking at the animal prints makes me happy!  I was dismayed but not surprised to hear that JCPenney is filing for bankruptcy.  I do not know if this means the company will disappear forever, but if they do I will miss them.

I always look forward to finding a new mystery book series to read, and the Aloha Chicken Mysteries by Josi Avari promises to be a fun one.  I finished the first in the collection last week, and will be ordering more from Amazon soon.  If you have any interest in Hawaii, chickens, and/or cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this series!

I am constantly learning more about the flora and fauna of my new home state.  Pictured above is a white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) I discovered clinging to one of the many yucca plants (Yucca glauca) growing wild on our property.

And speaking of yucca plants, here is one that is currently flowering right next to one of our entrance gates.  Last year, which was a very wet year, almost all of our yuccas flowered, but this is the only one that waited until this year to do so.  The yucca flower is the New Mexico state flower, so I am especially pleased to see this one blooming happily on our property!

Long after yuccas have flowered, the sturdy dried stalks remain on the plants.  I find them very artistic-looking and just had to collect a couple to display in a wooden vase I bought recently online at a fantastic price (less than $10!) from Pier 1 (another favorite company that has fallen upon hard times and may not survive the pandemic shutdown).

The arrival of spring always puts me in the mood to garden, and I have started a small indoor kitchen windowsill collection.  I found these three tiny succulent planters at Lowe's around Mother's Day, and the cute animal-shaped pots always make me smile!

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Have you found that little things are important during these pandemic days?  I must admit that my current pandemic lifestyle does not differ much from my pre-pandemic way of life, and I have always found more joy in life's little everyday matters rather than in major events.  I hope all of you out there are finding ways to cope!
             

Wish List Wednesdays: Joules The Showers That Be Raincoat from ModCloth

I have really been hitting the jackpot lately when it comes to Dalmatian-themed goods.  My latest find is the Joules The Showers That Be Raincoat (on sale for $64.99) from ModCloth.  The eye-catching Dalmatian print on a red background would cheer up any rainy day!  This unlined lightweight coat is meant for summer weather, and the polyester fabric is machine-washable.  There is also a navy dog print featuring multiple breeds, but only smaller sizes are still available.  These raincoats will probably disappear quickly, so if you are interested get your order in now!
             

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #19

From MTC Federal Credit Union

I did not have time to finish my weekend post yesterday, so I am posting it today instead.  While it is technically no longer the weekend, today is a holiday and considered part of a long weekend, so I am taking advantage of that fact!

Memorial Day promises to be a wet one here in Santa Fe.  Until today, we have been having warm to hot temperatures with no rain.  The day I wore today's outfit was quite hot.  I have been going in to town as early as possible in the mornings, to avoid crowds as well as the heat.  Pale colors help me feel cooler, as do lightweight fabrics.  The tee came from Coldwater Creek recently, bought at a great sale discount.  I added a long silver link necklace to my ensemble (purchased from a shop at Serenbe in Georgia back when we had a house there) and my outfit was complete:

Clockwise from top left: Coldwater Creek Natural Inspirations Printed Tee in River Blue: Armenta Sterling Silver Twisted Link Necklace (similar to my much less expensive necklace); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); HUE Ultrafine Cotton Sock in White (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust (similar to mine); 7 For All Mankind High-Rise Skinny Ankle Jeans in Solid Pink (similar to mine).

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I got most of my garden planting done yesterday.  It turns out that it was a good thing I did not get everything planted, because the few plants that I did not get into the ground were to have gone into a spot that floods when it rains.  Thanks for the warning, Mother Nature!  I hope you have safe but special plans for today, and let's not forget to honor all of those in the military who gave their lives fighting for our freedom.
             

Foodie Fridays: Herbed Walnut Potato Salad

If you are looking for a great potato salad recipe to try for Memorial Day, you should check out this one for Herbed Walnut Potato Salad.  I am not fond of mayonnaise-based potato salads as they are usually very bland, but this dish has a vinaigrette dressing that is quite tasty - just be sure to serve it at room temperature to bring out the flavors (another advantage of a vinaigrette dressing is that it can sit out at room temperature without spoiling).  Rather than adding all of the walnuts to the entire recipe just before serving, I prefer to offer the toasted walnuts on the side, to be added to individual servings and stirred in just before eating.  This method guarantees that the walnuts will be crisp and crunchy and will not become soggy from sitting the vinaigrette for too long.  Have a safe and fun Memorial Day, and enjoy whatever dishes you decide to serve!

Herbed Walnut Potato Salad

3 lbs. each small Yukon Gold potatoes

1 can (15 oz.) white beans, rinsed and drained

1 red bell pepper, diced (about 1 C.)

3/4 C. sliced green onions

1/4 C. minced fresh parsley

1/4 C. extra virgin olive oil

1/4 C. white balsamic vinegar*

1 T. Dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

1 C.walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

2 T. snipped fresh basil

Quarter the potatoes and place in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket.  Steam for 20-25 minutes or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.  Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes with the beans, bell pepper, green onions, and parsley.  Whisk together the oil, vinegar, and mustard, add salt and pepper to taste, and drizzle over the salad.  Lightly toss to coat the vegetables with the dressing, then cover and refrigerate until ready to serve (at least 1 hour).  Just before serving, stir in the walnuts and basil.  Serves 8.

*We were given a bottle of Savory Olive Comic Pear White Balsamic Vinegar as a gift last year so I used it in this recipe.  I would recommend getting a bottle if you can find it, as the comice pear flavor adds a unique sweetness to the salad that is irresistibly delicious!

                

Wish List Wednesdays: The Novogratz Dalmatian Collections

If you adore Dalmatians as much as I do, then you are going to find a lot to love in The Novogratz bedding collection on Amazon!  There are two sheet sets based on two different famous Dalmatians.  Shown above is the Novogratz Major Sheet Set in Blue ($39.99- $79.99 plus free shipping).  Major was the name of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt's White House Dalmatian, and his image is featured prominently on these 100% percale cotton sheets.

The other Dalmatian sheet set is the Novogratz Scout Sheet Set in Charcoal ($34.99-$62.68 plus free shipping).  It is also 100% percale cotton and is named for a famous canine hero from a Brooklyn fire company who saved a family of five from a burning building in 1928.

If you need a blanket for your bed, the Novogratz Major Blanket in Navy ($39.99-$49.05 plus free shipping) is the perfect complement to these sheet sets.  The 100% polyester plush fleece is machine washable for easy care.

Complete your bedding with the Novogratz Scout Duvet Cover Set in Charcoal ($67.99-$129.98 plus free shipping).  The 100% percale cotton set includes the duvet cover plus shams (one sham for twin and two for full/queen and king).

The Novogratz Major Throw Pillow in Grey ($22.49 plus free shipping on orders over $25) can be added as an accent to your bed, or use it on a chair or sofa.  This 14x20-inch pillow is 100% cotton canvas and the envelope cover is removable for cleaning.

Finally, if you need a couple of throw blankets to use around the house, there are two Dalmatian options.  The Novogratz Major Throw in Navy or "Nautral" (not sure if that is a misspelling for "Natural" or possibly "Neutral"?) are both 50x60 inches in size and are made of 100% polyester plush fleece.  The navy throw is identical to the blanket-sized version described earlier, and both throws are available for $24.99 plus free shipping on orders over $25.

For those of us who are obsessed with all things Dalmatian, these Novogratz bedding collections are irresistible.  I placed my order yesterday, and am already wondering if I need to add a few more pieces (there are shower curtains available in both the Major and Scout prints, but luckily for our bank account the showers and bathtubs in our house are not the types that need them!).