Art that is simple and beautiful is my favorite, no matter the style. If you can’t create something that’s both clean and functional, then what’s the use? At least that’s my view. Maarten De Ceulaer creates bowls with synthetic plaster, food colorant, and balloons. The end result is mildly unpredictable, which I also love. New series are created based on demand, and you can pick up your own right here. In the meantime, check out this video on the making of Balloon Bowls.
This all started with me wanting to make simple syrup. And it ended with me creating this cocktail to use the simple syrup in. And those red raspberries? Yeah, I didn’t have any strawberries when it came time to take photos. Regardless, a highly recommended cocktail!
Super simple and tough to mess up. Combine the simple syrup and gin in a tumbler, use a swizzle to stir together. If you want a stronger cocktail stop right here. Otherwise, add a splash of seltzer for fizz and toss in a few berries for color and texture. DONE.
I realize not everyone is going to care about what I’ve been going through as a caregiver. But with the crazy statistic that 65.7 million Americans care for a family member with a terminal illness, I thought I’d continue to share my journey with Pete with you.
It seems as though Pete’s reached the late-intermediate stage of Alzheimer’s, there is no set time table with the disease just a person-by-person pace. He easily fixates on things for long periods of time, particularly anything of extreme size or quantity. Think car dealerships, skyscrapers, etc. A big source of anxiety is the idea of something he needs running out, so several of everything are kept on hand at all times. Soap, paper towels, and the like. Date and time are both obsessions, as are fidgeting with his watch which he changes the settings on several times a day.
Pete still gets great joy out of reading the daily newspaper cover to cover (sometimes several times in the same day) and walking outside, so we take full advantage of both. I try to stick to his daily routines as much as possible because he’s easily thrown off, something as simple as the Girl Scouts coming around to sell cookies will leave him asking a million questions hours after the event.
As we’ve moved deeper into the disease more symptoms are revealing themselves. Pete’s begun to forget everyday words and will replace them in conversation with one of the completely wrong meaning. At times no words at all want to form and what comes out sounds more like a child learning to speak. Jibber jabber. His balance is beginning to fail him as well, and a few weeks ago he took a tumble while showering (luckily he was uninjured). Walking has slowed down and it takes a few tries to get up from a sitting position, both make his habit of wandering around more dangerous and me more hawk-like. But he still eats like a champ! More like a teenage boy actually, the other day he housed six slices of pizza for dinner.
A recent development is what I like to call the True/False Game, where he has a thought so set in him mind that he believes it no matter what. Like one of the indoor cats getting outside last week, even though they were both napping under a bed. Another high point of his days is Piper, I bring her with me Monday through Friday and he can’t get enough. Things about her are actually some of the only new information he remembers, so I’m grateful for any sort of joy she brings into his life. And they have such an amazing bond that it has me wondering whether she might make a good therapy dog to bring happiness to others.
One thing I never stopped to think about when I became Pete’s daytime caregiver is what sort of effect it might have on me. As with all terminal illnesses, which Alzheimer’s ultimately is, there are good days and bad. And you take both in stride not knowing when the switch is going to flip the other way. In the past few weeks it’s been in the ‘bad’ direction more than the ‘good,’ and I feel ragged. My anxiety, which has always been on the high end of the spectrum, has skyrocketed. My will to do anything after going home has plummeted, and I don’t discount the fact that I might be slightly depressed. My solace lies in the fact that I’m most likely suffering more than Pete, simply because he doesn’t remember most things short term any longer. And I wouldn’t change that for anything.
These gorgeous over-sized 36 x 36″ 100% silk scarves from Fieldguided are rocking my world. An ice cave, a mountain, Venus, and a meteor (my favorite) can be worn a zillion different ways or even hung on a wall. Not to mention how black and white go perfectly with just about whatever else you’re wearing. (Photography by Anja Verdugo.)
Last week Aircraft Infused ScentSticks sent me a few of their fragrances to check out. I could tell you how you can use the 12 scents alone, or mix them together to make a unique one of your own (there’s up to 1,000 possible). Or maybe I could mention that they’re made of natural, biodegradable fibers from sustainable sources. But I want to tell you what I honest to goodness love about them.
1. There’s no oil. This from the lady who’s cat once spilled an entire bottle full of fig-scented diffuser all over himself and reeked for a month. The sticks infused with it instead of sitting in it. SMART.
2. The scents are really, really good. Right now I’m using Summer Rain and it’s reminiscent of the Sunflowers perfume I wore in junior high. The same, but different. I have them in my office, but the scent subtly makes its way through the entire back half of my house.
3. I dig the look. The little ceramic holder fits right in with my decor, and it doesn’t look cheap.
Basically, I’m sold! I can’t wait to check out more of the scents, and maybe snag a few more other areas of my home.
Aircraft provided sample products for me to review, but all opinions are my own.
Wall tape? YES! The natural next step after a washi tape obsession. Grab your translator and check out this amazing stuff from Sincol-mt. Create bold patterns or a simple accent wall. Then use it on the dining table for a temporary runner that stays put or maybe create a piece of canvas art with overlapping colors and patterns. The options are sort of endless, don’t you think?
We bought our 1922 Seattle Bungalow as a foreclosure in 2009, and as such it needed a lot of TLC. We’re both architects by training, so there is a lot of experimenting here and there going on as far as larger projects go. We like our little corners where we can easily swap out artwork and seasonal decor to keep things fresh without stressing out too much about design. We’ve tried to keep a fairly neutral backdrop where we can let colorful vintage finds and repurposed items shine. Our design tends to an eclectic mix of mid-century pieces with some whimsy thrown in. Some of our favorite furniture pieces are family heirlooms and they really bring that heart to our home.
The ultimate blinged out project? A disco ball helmet of course. Now they’ll see you coming on your bike a mile away (just be sure and use acrylic mirror instead of glass)!
