Summer Skills

As a farewell to my favorite season, I made this week's photo album showcasing the things I did over the summer. I posted a few pictures on Instagram, too, in case you're interested. 

And because I associate summer with learning (or re-learning) something new, here are some creative endeavors in photos:

I took a watercolor class where, aside from
paint, we used materials like salt, bubble wrap,
and colored tissue paper to make art.

Taking that class sparked an interest in watercolor.
I got all nerdy and borrowed some books from
the library to learn new techniques.

I even bought a few things like a visual
journal (watercolor paper), a quality
paintbrush, and a color wheel.

I took my visual journal everywhere, including 

a trip to Brooklyn.

I gave myself the daunting task of painting
the Brooklyn Bridge and the skyline of
lower Manhattan. I started with a sketch.

Then I added color.

Some black ink for definition and TADA!,
my first cityscape. I know, I need more
practice, but I gotta start somewhere. 

I made this little work space that invites me to
practice with watercolors on a regular basis.

I even use watercolors for calligraphy.

I decorated these blah envelopes and
mailed them to friends living miles away.
Keeping in touch via snail mail is
always TADA!

I also offered some time at City Harvest
(we rescue food for New York's hungry),
where I've been volunteering for
several years now. Doing this always
leaves me with a TADA! feeling. 

I'm hoping that by reaching out to long lost
friends and doing some community service,
I would've spread some joy.

Thank you for indulging in my summer album. 

I wish you all a beautiful weekend!

The Great Outdoors

Summer is hands down my favorite season. The weather is warm, the days are long, and I feel I accomplish a lot during these months. This week, I'm sharing photos from my summer, a way of crossing off the list I made on Pinterest.

Today, it's all about outdoor entertainment.

Movies in the park are always fun.
This is at the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Bring your own blanket, drinks and munchies.

And add a bunch of buddies to the mix.

Just like a movie theater, there's popcorn!

An outdoor concert at the Olde Lafayette Village.

A solo concert at Central Park (the line is
for tickets at Shakespeare in the Park).

Jazz Evenings at Bryant Park

A Latin band performing at the mall
(they were awesome!)

I watched a Broadway play, too.
War Horse not only had a touching
story, the puppetry and set design
were TADA!

Did you tune into the Summer Olympics?
I sure did!

London did a spectacular job.

I loved the symbolism of these copper petals.
Each country was assigned one and these were
lit all together for the duration of the Games.
I think each country got to take them home
once the flames were extinguished.

These activities indeed turn an ordinary summer day from blah to TADA!

Hunting for Treasures

Shopping at flea markets/thrift stores was on my agenda over the summer, as I've listed on my "Splendid Summer" board on Pinterest. Today, can I show you where I went and what I found?

"Tea for one" teapot stacked on a cup and saucer
scored at the Housing Works Thrift Shop.

What I love about it is the "Alice in Wonderland"
design - the tea party of all tea parties! It looked
unused and was still in its original box...
and I paid just $5.00 for it!

Stumbled upon The Hyde Park Antiques Center
in Upstate New York. Don't be fooled by its
quaint facade -- it's huge once you enter.

Inside you'll find concessionaires selling
furniture and home accessories,
arranged in pretty vignettes.

Boudoir-like spaces carrying
simple, frothy and sparkly dresses... 

...and accessories to match.

Hardbound books and old magazines
that take you to lands far, far away.

There's a clock room that was both
fascinating (makes you wonder how old
these were) and terrifying (the chorus of 
tick-tocks reminded me of looming deadlines).

Pretty tableware...loved the dishes on the upper left.

There was a well-curated booth called Telesca
selling vintage country finds like these
bingo cards.

My husband took home a pair of cuff links...

...while I added another teacup to my collection.
What sealed the deal? My birth month was
printed on it! The sweet pea flowers are also
associated with this month.

In Lafayette, New Jersey, there's what's called
Old Lafayette Village, offering outlet shopping,
food and specialty shops, summer festivals
and farmer's markets.

There are a handful of antique shops as well.

Just right for the little "old lady" in me.

Treasures worth the time and inspection.

Souvenirs from a simpler time.

I was drawn to the old toys and
floral China (of course).

As you can see, one person's trash is another person's treasure. Isn't that blah to TADA? I hope you enjoyed our trips today!

Blooming Summer

I hope your Tuesday is off to a good start. This week, I'm sharing my "Summer Album". It's based on a board I created on Pinterest called "Splendid Summer". 

Here are a few photos featuring spectacular blooms, scents and song:

The great outdoors were abundant
with flowers...I just had to bring
the outdoors in. 

Yellow one week...

Green the next...

And pink for another...flowers are
such a simple way to turn
blah to TADA!

Grew some succulents.

Cared of a low-maintenance
mini garden.

Took a whiff of lavender at
the farmer's market (I hope
to make it a field next time).

Tried some new scents for the home.
I couldn't resist these hand soaps in
bottles designed by
Orla Kiely for Target.

I also got myself this candle
with the scent of caramel popcorn.

I wish I could say I owned this player, but
I listened to a few too many standards
on my iPod.

See you back tomorrow!

Purposeful Pinning

Hello there! There was a tiny phrase printed on my calendar last Saturday. It said, "September 22 - First day of Autumn". My heart sank a little. Don't get me wrong, I love Autumn and everything associated with it -- apple-picking, amber-colored leaves, thick sweaters, delicious scarves, and knee-high boots. But I have a love affair with summer, and parting ways is absolute blah.

Sorry for the melodrama. To make-up for it, let me tell you about my "Splendid Summer". It's a board on my Pinterest page. I put this board together because I joined a contest over at Oh Joy. The winner was to receive an iPad plus a few other goodies just by pinning images that defined "splendid summer". Instead of random images, I made the exercise purposeful by listing through pictures, "50 Things I'd Like To Enjoy this Summer."

I didn't win, but all wasn't lost. As I ticked off the items on my list, I felt I was making the most out of a fleeting season. Blah to TADA!

Number 50 on the list is, "Create a summer album", and I'm doing just that. All this week, I'll  share the things I've done this summer.

Today, it's all about the yummy things I ate:

I baked a batch of cookies (chocolate chip walnut)

I indulged in some shaved ice - this is a
Taiwanese kind with strawberries and
condensed milk purchased at the
Fulton Stall Market, South Street Seaport

Another kind of shaved ice, this
time Korean, called Patbingsu
from Paris Baguette

Instead of making popsicles, I bought some!
 They're gelato pops dipped in chocolate.
Found them at the Pop Bar.

Ate some lobster (lobster rolls
from Smorgasburg)

Grilled a few burgers at home

Took the annual pilgrimage to
Dairy Queen for a blizzard!

I wish you a delicious day! More photos tomorrow.

Make a Statement Without Saying a Word

Happy Friday! Here's a mood board to show you another way to wear a collection of brooches or a bunch of vintage buttons:

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Gather them up to make a necklace or bracelet! Attach each to a chain, felt backing or ribbon for a unique piece to wear, give or sell.

Check out this other fun inspiration from the Bloomingdale's catalog:

Wear all your brooches at the same time to mimic a bib necklace or jewel-encrusted top. I think this looks better editorially than in the practical world, but hey, it just might work.

Have a fancy weekend, my dears!

Cuff Collection

Sometimes, I find plain bangles from the Dollar Store. While they are cute as they are, I usually itch for a blah to TADA! make-over. 

Here are some pegs on how to give them a face lift:

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(1), (2), (3) Graphic Elements - use a permanent marker to draw some artwork or fancy them up with alphabet/numeral stickers.

(4) Neon Lace - cover the bangle with lace for texture and dimension. Create a lace "body suit"; slip it on the bangle and stitch ends to close.

(5) Decoupaged Design - glue on some paper cut-outs to the face of a bangle and coat with several layers of Mod Podge. Allow to dry before use.