A Cover-Up

I'm on a short break all this week

but I've promised to give you a peek

at what I pack in my beach bag.

It's all about prints when summer comes around.

My sure pick would be florals, on my bag and on

my beach cover-up, a.k.a sarong or pareo.

This design reminds me so much of Indian block prints and

the blue & white combination is perfect for the season.

I can use it after a swim, line a lounge chair with it or

turn it into a shawl when the night gets too windy.

Hey, it can even pass for a dress, skirt or bandana!

Just check out the options here.

A Summer Page Turner

I'm taking a little vacation this week but I

left you with a little show & tell that I call,

"What's Inside my beach bag?"

One of the things I take with me wherever

I go is a really entertaining book like

this newly released one from a

first time author:

Now, I'm not one to judge a book by it's cover

but don't you think this one is so TADA!?

Weathered, romantic, nostalgic.

Before Ever After is about love -- what we do

to avoid it and the great lengths we go to keep it.

The book gracefully weaves in romance, history,

mystery, fantasy, something culinary & adventure.

It'll take you all around Europe -- London, Paris,

Versailles,Vienna, Venice, Rome, Switzerland,

Slovenia and across the globe to the Philippines!

And if that's not enough to draw you in,

check-out this teaser.

By the way, when you start reading it, take

note of all the quirky chicken & egg facts. :-)

Care to share your favorite summer reads?

I'm Off to the Beach

Happy Monday my Dears!

I hope none of you were greatly affected

by Hurricane Irene.

I'm taking a little blogging break this week.

I feel the need to dip my toes in the water.

So I'm off to the beach!

But don't worry, you'll get to read something

everyday this week. I'll be sharing what I

packed in my beach bag.

Here's an inexpensive bag I got a few years ago.

The print makes me smile.

All. The. Time.

Here are some of the things I've stuffed it with.

But you'll have to tune in tomorrow for

the details.

Have a fun day!

A Green Magazine

Howdy Friends!

Today, I'm completing the round-up of

my favorite online magazines.

This one gets an extra "TADA!",

an extra star, an extra popcorn or

whatever extra ____ you use on

your rating system, because of its

focus on the environment.

It's called Pure Green Living Magazine.

It's created quarterly in Canada by Celine & Jonathan

Mackay and their hardworking team of writers,

stylists and photographers.

The pages give you tons of ideas on how to live

a green lifestyle. From home design...

to dining and gardening...

and even choosing the right products to shop for.

They encourage anything handmade and are

very supportive of budding entrepreneurs.

They're also celebrating their first birthday!

Cheer them on at their website or

on their blog.

Have a nice, nice weekend everyone!

Aussie Style

It's difficult for me to imagine a world without

magazines. News stands in bus stations and

airports without magazines. Waiting rooms at

the dentist or doctor's office without magazines.

I can't bear the thought! So blah!

I guess one day we'll all be totting around some

kind of tablet PC like an iPad or Samsung Galaxy,

the same way we carry mobile phones everywhere.

Good thing there are now many

on-line magazines! TADA!

Today, it's off to Australia to see

some of the magazines they have.

Adore is Australia's first online home &

lifestyle magazine. It's first issue launched

in October/November 2010 and has been

wow-ing its readers with gorgeous homes

and beautifully designed products from

all over the world.

Paper Runway is a bit different from

the magazines I've shared this week

because instead of fashion, food &

decor, it's all about paper! And if

you love paper and the many ways

to create with it, it's worth checking

this one out.

Happy Reading!

Rue Magazine

Hi ya' all! There's no crafting this week.

Instead, I'm sharing a few on-line blogs

that you might like.

Today, it's all about Rue:

It's debut issue was September/October 2010.

It's the brainchild of two talented ladies, Crystal Gentilello

and Anne Sage, who are also bloggers.

If you browse through it, you will find:

Stylish interiors that you'll want to copy

Entertaining ideas to add a special touch to any party

Fabulous finds for the fashionista & decorista

What I like most about Rue are "Blogger Side

by Side" (revealing a more personal side

of popular bloggers), "Gallery Wall"

(giving readers options on how to dress up blank

walls without spending too much),

the studio tours and house tours, as well

as behind the scenes videos & play lists.

Curious already?

Check it out here.

Enjoy!

Matchbook Magazine

Yesterday, I paid tribute to some lovely magazines

that have stopped publication. A big blah for fans like me.

The TADA! is that a bunch of free on-line magazines

are grabbing my attention and I just can't get enough.

Today's pick:

Matchbook Magazine was launched just this January 2011

by once students in Switzerland & now bestie travel buds

Katie Armour and Jane Lilly Warren.

It's "A field guide to the charmed life," inspiring women

around the world to design a life they adore.

To date, they already have 7 issues.

Passionate, creative and influential members

of the design world grace the covers.

Of course you'll find fashion & style inside

its pages.

As well as decorating and art.

There's travel & culture too.

What I like best is that there's a lot of references

to history but the way it's presented isn't boring

at all. Just check out the "Datebook", "Icon",

"Ten Things You Didn't Know About..." and

"Encyclopedia" sections.

Another thing I like is the strong focus on bloggers

(who are not necessarily professional writers)

as contributors to the magazine.

If you go to the Matchbook site, be ready to

get lost in it's pages, learn something new

and find some inspiration!

My Favorite Magazines

Let me begin the week by telling you about my all

time favorite magazines. They were all so TADA!

but they've since shut down the doors of their

offices. I miss receiving them in my mail

box and flipping through their glossy,

mesmerizing pages. Such a blah.

Maybe they were your favorites too?

Domino was a hip, approachable decorating &

shopping magazine. I liked that the homes

featured in its pages were lived-in, filled with

pieces collected over time & brimming

with character.

They closed in 2009.

Gourmet was a trusted expert in food trends &

entertaining. I miss Editor-in-Chief Ruth Reichl

who's such a colorful personality.

The magazine ended its run in 2009.

ReadyMade was the little magazine that could.

It promoted the Do-It-Yourself movement

whether building a table or building a business

and the pride that comes with making things

with your hands.

June/July 2011 was their last issue.

She is a British Magazine with a long history

(it's been around since 1955), it's lively pages filled

with food, fashion, entertaining and decorating.

Whenever I bought it in London, it came with

freebies like a bag, cosmetic bag or paperback!

Yet again, another closing.

The last issue comes out this August.

News like this breaks my heart.

I know how much work editors &

contributors put into a magazine.

I hope that the talents that have

lost their jobs will or have moved on

to greater things.

As for us readers, I'm happy to note that

the number of on-line magazines are now

growing. All this week, I'll introduce

a new one to you (if you haven't made

their acquaintance yet).

Let's begin with Sweet Paul:

Born in the Spring of 2010 to Paul Lowe,

a food & prop stylist, crafter & blogger.

I love this magazine because of its cheerful

simplicity with a touch of whimsy.

It showcases easy recipes, simple crafts,

and wish-list worthy products for ladies,

moms, kids and even pets.

My favorite sections include "Keep

Your Eye On" (up & coming creatives),

"Crafty Friday" and pages of recipes, each

with a memorable story attached to it.

Sweet Paul is also into crafty recycling!

You'll see it here, here & here.

Check it out...I think you'll like it. :-)

Floating Lights

Hey, hey, we made it to Friday!

Did you like my summer lights ideas this week?

Here's one more:

Number 1 blah: empty glass jars

Number 2 blah: produce sacks

Number 3 blah: battery operated votives

{I must admit, they're really a TADA!}

Number 1 + Number 2 + Number 3 = TADA!

A few homemade lanterns! Wanna see?

Hang them on something sturdy like tree branches.

They look like glowing fish caught in a net.

They even resemble fireflies!

Have a radiant weekend my dears!

CANdle Light

On this lovely Thursday, I want to extend the life of these

aluminum cans:

They're quite blah, don't you think?

But if you take a hammer & a nail to make

a few holes all around the can...

And add in a votive candle; light it up...

TADA! Instant luminaries!

Just imagine how a bunch of these can

make your garden glow!

Have a nice day!