Summer is unofficially here, and to me that means cramming as many veggies into this here bod as possible while they’re in season. My go-to is usually a kitchen sink style salad that uses up whatever’s languishing, and tying it all together with a delicious dressing that’s like a bow on top. I’m looking forward to trying out these ten recipes in the months to come!
Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian
Summer in Sand Lake isn’t complete without a trip to Meade Creamery — the local ice cream stand founded in 1944 by Molly Meade who started making ice cream to cheer up her lovesick girlfriends while all the boys were away at war. Seventeen-year-old Amelia and her best friend Cate have worked at the stand every summer for the past three years, and Amelia is “Head Girl” at the stand this summer. When Molly passes away before Amelia even has her first day in charge, Amelia isn’t sure that stand can go on. That is, until Molly’s grandnephew Grady arrives and asks Amelia to stay on to help continue the business… but Grady’s got some changes in mind…
Big Cloud by Camille Seaman
Our culture is addicted to weather: hourly forecasts, apps, radio, TV channels, alerts, warnings, and watches. Photographer Camille Seaman stands in front of tornados, at the edges of lightning storms, and in pelting hail under pitch-black skies to capture supercells and mammatus clouds in their often sublime and terrifying splendor. In these awe-inspiring photographs, Seaman’s work is a potent reminder that there is no art more dramatic, in scale or emotion, than that created by nature.
Juniper: The Happiest Fox by Jessika Coker
Juniper’s adorable snaggletooth smile and fun-loving personality are vibrantly captured in this heartwarming book. With gorgeous photos, a charming narrative about Juniper’s life, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to live with a fox, this book will capture the heart of any animal lover. Juniper’s story chronicles her adoption and real-life Fox and the Hound relationship with a dog named Moose as well as the hilarious shenanigans she regularly gets herself into — including adapting to her new companion Fig, a younger fox who was rescued from a fur farm. Readers will also get a look at the thing Juniper is best known for: she paints with her paws!
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
In Shaker Heights everything is planned – from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules. Enter Mia Warren – an enigmatic artist and single mother – who arrives with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
To be admired by someone we admire – we all yearn for this: the private, electrifying pleasure of being singled out by someone of esteem. But sometimes it can also mean entry to a new kind of life, a bigger world. Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman when she meets the woman she hopes will change her life. Faith Frank, dazzlingly persuasive and elegant at sixty-three, has been a central pillar of the women’s movement for decades, a figure who inspires others to influence the world. Upon hearing Faith speak for the first time, Greer feels her inner world light up. And then, astonishingly, Faith invites Greer to make something out of that sense of purpose, leading Greer down the most exciting path of her life as it winds toward and away from her meant-to-be love story with Cory and the future she’d always imagined.
Lemonade with Zest: 40 Thirst-Quenching Recipes by April White
This collection of 40 recipes for lemonade is filled with classic and innovative flavors the whole family can enjoy (plus a few variations with alcohol for those who imbibe). The recipes show how the beloved lemon pairs so well with an array of unique and delicious flavors—from pomegranate to ginger and cardamom — and creates a lip-smacking beverage that is a refreshing treat for any occasion.
Hoop Dreams: Modern Hand Embroidery by Cristin Morgan
Vibrant color and rich textures abound in Hoop Dreams, a stylish embroidery guide for the modern maker. Author Cristin Morgan of Marigold + Mars outlines the basics of 10 classic embroidery stitches and then teaches you how to use them to create 20 beautiful and practical projects for hoops, for the home, and to wear. New and experienced embroiderers alike will be delighted by the fresh motifs and bold color palettes and empowered by the easy step-by-step instructions and templates, which show that with just a few simple stitches, some basic materials, and an idea or two, you can stitch just about anything.
100% Real: 100 Insanely Good Recipes for Clean Food Made Fresh by Sam Talbot
Bursting with 100 whole-food recipes and down-to-earth advice about clean eating, this cookbook proves that eating 100% real food is an enjoyable choice you can make every day. Chef Sam Talbot’s nourishing dishes are overflowing with natural flavor and free of processed ingredients, questionable additives, sweeteners, or preservatives.
Craft the Rainbow: 40 Colorful Paper Projects by Brittany Watson Jepsen
What began as an Instagram hashtag and project collection (#CrafttheRainbow) that quickly went viral has become a showstopping book, offering a rainbow of completely new project ideas. Learn how to make playful party decorations, luscious flowers, amazing cards, and sophisticated wreaths, garlands, centerpieces, and more than you can imagine — all with nothing but the creative power of paper.
Legendary Ladies: 50 Goddesses to Empower and Inspire You by Ann Shen
Aphrodite, the Greek goddess whose love overcame mortality. Mazu, the Chinese deity who safely guides travelers home. Lakshmi, the Hindu provider of fortune and prosperity. These powerful deities and many more are celebrated in gorgeous artwork and enlightening essays that explore the feminine divine and encourage readers to empower themselves.
A2Z+: Alphabets and Signs by Mel Gooding
Now in its fourth iteration, A2Z+ remains the ultimate source for unusual, inventive fonts not found anywhere else. This updated version contains an abundance of newly-discovered material with over 130 new images, features the spectacular statistical charts of W. E. Du Bois and a wealth of rare graphics and ephemera. This off-beat collection is the perfect inspiration for designers, history buffs, artists, as well as casual readers interested in remarkable typefaces, symbols, and patterns.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different — and far more satisfying — than he ever imagined. Santiago’s journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.
PERSONAL NOTE: I’ll be taking a week off from posting here while I travel to New York for ICFF. See you back here May 29th!
Posted In create, read up, round up, series
Sunday Lounge Side Chair by Revolution Design House
Portland, Oregon-based Revolution Design House has reimagined the classic aluminum lawn chair into two modern versions, both the Sunday Lunge Side Chair and Armchair.
TRIMM Copenhagen has created an outdoor collection full of multifunctional products that can be used inside and out, all year round. Lightweight with attached handles, you can easily move each piece around according to use.
SP01’s outdoor collection is an elegant series of chairs, tables, and stools by Australian designer Tom Fereday. Made in Italy by leading manufacturers, the range was designed and tested to withstand the toughest of environments – the Australian outdoors.
Muller Van Severen designed a series of outdoor loungers made with stainless steel netting to form curvy, three-dimensional structures. There are several variations of the loungers to choose from that in different shapes and sizes, as well as the choice of an unlacquered finish or a powder coated color.
By Your Side Table by Skagerak
Skagerak is a family-owned company crafting long-lasting designs through a global supply chain. Their outdoor collection is smartly made responsibly produced, it’s also easy to move around to suit your backyard needs.
Posted In furniture, house and home, living, outdoors, round up, series
The fear of a May snowstorm has finally left me, and I’m just about ready to commit to putting all my plants outside for the summer. For the past few years I’ve been using an old glass milk bottle to water them all, but I think it might be time to find something with a little more precision in its pour. These are some of my favorite watering cans that I’m trying to decide between.
1/Modern Watering Can 2/Hoop Handle Mini Watering Can 3/Haws 1-Liter Steel Watering Can 4/Brass Watering Can 5/Kaenjusai Watering Can 6/Medium Matte Black Watering Can 7/Modern Copper Watering Can 8/Saic Watering Carafe 9/Zen Watering Can 10/Menu Well Watering Can
Posted In grow it, living, round up, series
1/Activator 7 Body + Hair + Face Oil 2/Agave Lip Mask 3/Cocofloss 4/Surfs Up Texture Spray 5/Honest Hazel Eye Gels 6/Thigh Rescue Anti-Chafe Stick 7/Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer
8/Zero Gravity Volume Powder 9/Serene Scalp Soothing Leave-On Treatment 10/Replenishing Salt Soak 11/Healing Balm 12/Rose Quartz All Purpose Salve 13/Jet Lag Mask 14/Sweet Mint Lip Balm 15/Walnut Hand & Foot Scrub
Posted In beauty bag, round up, series, style
It’s taken me a lifetime to figure it out, but I’m an in between kind of lady – I like the time it takes to get somewhere, so I prefer spring and fall to the more extreme summer and winter. And more than anything I love the flowers and greenery that burst forth this time of year, sometimes in my yard but more often than not at the florist. My vase game is strong (maybe too strong) but I can’t stop building upon it, and these sixteen will elevate your floral game 100%!
Deco Vase // Brass Ring Vases // Celia White Vase // Dark Green Ceramic Vase
Clay Stripe Vase // Colorado Vases // Double Wall Glass Vase // Enamel + Copper Vase
Gilded Vases // Glass Cactus Vase // Gradient Vase // Ikebana Vase
Kupa Lilac Vase // Sea Glass Vases // Terra Cotta Hourglass Vase // True Colors Vase Collection
Posted In accessories, house and home, living, round up, series
This trio of simple and chic bird feeders give off a unique modern effect. Made of acrylic glass, they’re lightweight and transparent. Attach them to the window with a silicone suction cup and cotton strings – with a plastic element that intentionally resembles red berries – and watch small birds flock in!
Use leftover boards that you probably already have gathering dust to create this modern birdhouse with clean lines and pop of color.
This modern birdhouse has an open floor plan with a modern gabled roof, a black walnut dowel that runs all the way through (providing plenty of indoor and outdoor seating), and enough space to entertain and feed the local birds all summer long. It’s entirely suspended by a USA made nylon cord and designed to last a lifetime.
Only three supplies are needed to make these modern glass shade bird feeders.
The construction of the birdhouse is fairly simple, but the details leave endless possibilities with making this kit personal to you. The finished camper should be a great home for a small bird family to start. The little windows are the right size to peek in, but still give the new hatchlings security. There’s nothing wrong with just sitting this kit up on your favorite shelf to show off your handy work, too!
Use affordable wooden bowls, sisal rope, and a soda bottle to make this playful acorn-shaped bird feeder. When the birds have finished eating the food you can create a new birdseed mold and hang it again!
Posted In house and home, living, outdoors, round up, seriesIt’s universally known that big things made smaller are just better. Case in point: sliders. Little four bite sandwiches filled with all of the most delicious things that also happen to be perfect for get togethers. With warm weather and outdoor entertaining just around the bend, sliders just might be the perfect potluck or picnic dish. Check out these 15 mouthwatering recipes below!
1/Aero Pipe 2/Sunbeam Lidded Stash Jar 3/Connector Pipe 4/Half Circle Pipe 5/It’s a Pipe 6/Petra Mints 7/Pure Beauty Pre-Rolls 8/Ring Pipe 9/Speckle One-Hitter 10/Twisty Glass Mini
Posted In living, round up, series