SOCIAL MEDIA

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Sun and Soil

A friend told me recently, "You have got to try this new place."
So, Lori picked me up one day for lunch and we went over to Sun and Soil; a little haven of good for you, yummyness. They serve organic, made-from-home, tasting smoothies and juices that are truly delicious and healthful. Plus, drinking there is like visiting an old friend in their well appointed living room. It is bright, airy and clean. It's a progressive spin on the smoothie/organic culture. So refreshing. I do have one tiny criticism, however. Bring a load of cash. Each juice is roughly $9.00 and you have to pay a $2.00 refundable fee for the bottle. $11.00 for a juice is more than a bit dear! The smoothies are more affordable at around $7.00 for a 16 oz. selection. Nevertheless, taking care of our bodies seems worth the splurge.







Lori!




Saturday, September 13, 2014

Frabjous Finds - All Kinds of Good Stuff


Sometimes we talk about unplugging as a society. There is so much stuff out there that hinders us; wheat, sugar, addiction, dehydration, bad communication and stress, just to mention a few. But does unplugging help to thwart these things? Sometimes, for me anyway, my computer can be a little sanctuary even among the "unplug" whispers. For instance, I love to get lost in Pinterest, it's a little haven for me. Private little morsels, like chocolate chips and moonbeams that are all mine and yet, I am sharing. But the enrichment that technology brings me is a list that is long and comforting and a place where I can window shop (or real shop) without leaving the comfort of my home. It used to be that comfort to me was a rainy day, a kitty, and a good book. Now, comfort is still that little trifecta of goodness, but I have added the complements of the internet (and my hubby). There is no limit to the goodies on display for me here. Let me share some of these things with you...

Look!

I love Matcha Green Tea at Starbucks. But to get a Matcha Green Tea Latte costs around $4.00 dollars and 300 calories. That is quite a price to pay. A little secret, though, if you order a "Matcha Water" at Starbucks you'll incur a $.75 charge and 50 calories. Much better. Or you can go to Tea Pigs and buy your own Matcha powder. You'll increase your metabolism, get anti oxidant benefits and not have to give any more money to the Starbucks Kingdom. Tea Pigs have cute stuff and lots of teas and reasonable prices. Best!

How would you like a brand new piece of furniture? Or, if you're gonna really go for it, a brand new kitchen? Amsterdam Woodworks  has won the best of the best on Angies list several times. Arno is an exceptional person, too, something that is rare in the artisan trades. Like him on Amsterdam Woodworks facebook page.

I went to the 20th and J Farmers Market last Saturday and I found a real gem. Mama Willow Tree has imported goods that she hand selects from many different regions all over the world, primarily Africa, Peru and Thailand. The colors are vibrant and the goods are high quality and functional and ALL MADE BY WOMEN! Talk about empowering.  I want these. Also, Tiffani is sweet and happy. She has a beauty that sparkles from the inside out.

Also,  Atelier 20. Kristi Hughes is the artist/designer and she's local. You've got to visit the store in order to really get her vibe.

The final finds are some awesome food blogs. Apparently I've been hungry this week.

1. Paleo Paparazzi - Kendra is a personal friend but she is also a resource for health and wellness. If you are endeavoring on a Paleo or Primal path I highly suggest consulting her and her blog. She has a great recipe for gourmet tuna stackers, similar to one I have here.

2. I Am A Food Blog - Great photos, do-able recipes, down to earth instead of I'm so awesome text.

3. My favorite foods are Jewish, Turkish, Italian, Irish and Dutch. All of them are part and parcel to my heritage. A really short history: my grandmother made the best pot roast and fed me excellent tongue and rugelach too. On my mother's side I am Dutch and that really stayed with her, she has Delft all over the house. Also my cousin was raised in the Netherlands - big part of us. I married a Turkish man - by making Pide and Lahmahcun. And I lived in Italy so that goes without saying and finally, I grew up across the street from Irish folks and have travelled to Ireland many times. I found recently a couple of Dutch food Blogs that warm me: this one and this one. Try out some Dutch food. In the coming winter months I will post Soup Mandlen (Jewish) and Spezzatino (Italian)! If you want turkish food try the Poagca and if you want Irish food try the Barmbrack.

4. Last but definitely not least is this one. Oh, Molly! You are a charmer. I'm a little jealous she's so cool at such a young age. I want to be cool too. Molly is funny and beautiful as are her photographs and styling. Also, the recipes at Molly Yeh are top notch.
Friday, July 20, 2012

Knife and Saw

I wasn't sure if I should start this post with Frabjous Find or label it under Art and Design. Well, it's both!

Knife and Saw is a design house begun by a guy named Mike Brigham. I found him while visiting Dwell recently because I was trying to get ideas for our "shop," "man cave," "basement," what have you. We are trying to shape the joint up so we can use it as a functional space instead of simply stowing camping gear.

I think most any space can have design elements included to make it uniquely yours, adding comfort and aesthetic.

Brigham hit the nail on the head or in this case hit the bike on a bookshelf!




Sunday, July 8, 2012

Frabjous Finds - Metrode

I never tire of excellent leather goods. for that matter, I never tire of excellent. And, I ask who does? Yeah, well, cruising the internet one day I came across a Seattle based company called Metrode that sells amazing leather bags and such. In perusing their media, I came to notice they have all kinds of amazing things. Since I'm eyeing this grey tote, I thought I should share.



Of course you need a new wallet to go with your new satchel.
If you know me, you know I love love love a clutch!
It's a woven leather basket.



Monday, July 2, 2012

Frabjous Finds - Wood Camera App

Sooooo.....

Everybody knows about Instagram. And heck, I am guilty of loving that thing. But sometimes I like to keep my photos breasted as I don't always want to share everything. for instance, if I take 7 pics of the same thing sometimes I like using them in a montage. If I have to adjust them using filters and tilt-shifts, then they have to be doctored and why would anyone want to see the junk in between?

Enter Wood Camera app for the iPhone. I learned about the Wood Camera app on Instagram because I follow it's creator, John Barnett. You can do nearly everything on this one app and when the final stage of awesome appears then you can share it on Instagram sans all the goopy errors before the final product.

Wood Camera has tons of lenses and fx to choose from and it's surprisingly user friendly. You can import several photos at a time and choose a number of frames and papers. My only criticism is that I wish there were more light effects. Big deal. Not much of a criticism really and I can use another app for that. With Wood camera, anyone can be a photo pro! It blows Hipstamatic out of the water and includes all the fx that I would usually do using two separate apps, PicFx and BeFunky.

Photos using the Wood Camera app for iPhone....

All photos by John Barnett and can be found @ John Barnett











Monday, May 28, 2012

Frabjous Finds - Fawning In Love


'It seems very pretty,' she said. 'Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas—only I don't exactly know what they are!" Alice in Wonderland 

Frabjous: Possibly a blend of fair, fabulous, and joyous. Definition from Oxford English Dictionary, credited to Lewis Carroll.

I love Alice's sentiment. Sometimes you encounter something or someone that is extraordinary. In that case what else can one say about whatever that je ne sais quoi is....Frabjous hits the nail on the head.

I was very lucky to come across Fawning In Love. I was looking for a very specific hair comb to wear in my hair for an upcoming wedding in which I am a bridesmaid. I want to represent my husband and I as I stand up for a very close friend. Our theme was "Birds of a Feather Flock Together." I found it! And I ran around the house yelling to my husband that I'd come across a Frabjous Find. Perhaps what prompted me to purchase from her were her excellent photographs, or the sweet packaging, or that everything is so reasonably priced. In any case I was overjoyed by this little present.

Laura, the shops owner, isn't any old handmade maven. She is a real professional and that was clear upon the receiving of this wee ditty. I've  a story to tell about the adventure that has been my experience with Fawning In Love.

I ordered a little gold hair comb that came with a little gold feather. The measurements were perfect - very small as I have baby fine hair. Wracked with excitement, I paid via paypal for my treasure. And then...I waited. The comb, having never showed up seemed to have gone missing in transit. I messaged Laura on Etsy, she took great care to rectify the error, immediately. Two days later, after rush delivery, my hair comb arrived. She was prompt, professional and warm. 

Her crafting doesn't stop at her accessories. Look at the sweet wrapping...It is because of her above and beyond talent that I've decided to feature her on Frabjous Finds! You'll want something from Fawning in Love, too. I promise! 









Impeccable details...

And look what other extraordinary things she offers in her shop...





Sunday, March 25, 2012

Frabjous Finds - Fab.com


'It seems very pretty,' she said when she had finished it, 'but it's rather hard to understand!' 'Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas—only I don't exactly know what they are!" Alice in Wonderland 

Frabjous: Possibly a blend of fairfabulous, and joyous. Definition from Oxford English Dictionary, credited to Lewis Carroll.




Listen, I hate giving free advertising to giant corporations. For a few reasons really: #1 I feel like I should receive a tit for tat...I advertise for them they should mention P & P!! #2 They're huge...do they need little old me to mention them again? They pay millions to an advertising agency to promote them. And last #3 The Book. That's right...if everyone is out there liking them and they are doing still more supplemental advertising on "The Book," then why do I need to tell people how great they are?

However, there are some companies that are so great, that I love so much, that I visit online so often, that I must must must mention them! And Fab.com is one of those companies! It is a veritable shopping Mecca that cannot be ignored and the best thing about their treasures is that the items listed are modern, chic, enticing, enviable and most importantly more often than not, affordable! Talk about a frabjous find!

Every time I go to this marvelous shopping site, I learn something new, find something sensational and want to shout it to the world. So world, here it is...FAB.COM!

Look at some of these treasures found only at Fab! at reasonable prices.


This first treasure is by a midwestern artist whose eye is fresh and uber cool! His name is Ryan Kapp and his paintings are on sale on Fab.com right now. I also think you should peruse his website to really get the flavor of his thumbprint. I just ordered one of these!



Look at this! This is a sweet dress from Sub_Urban Riot. I found this on Fab, too! Their clothes are natural fibers and very fashion forward all at the same time! Go look at their website! Although I've shown a dress, they have lots of clothing for both men and women. And they have a blog and they totally love "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," an irreverent hilarious show- which I love too! They are super modern if not a little bit hipster (their current give away is for a "fixie" bike) but very cute, cozy and comfortable.





Who doesn't love this? Your kitty as King Kong! I love this too much, and it's on sale right now at Fab.com! It is created by an awesome company called Luckies of London. They have a clever tea diffuser in the shape of a yellow submarine, barbeque swords, and wallets for car documents

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Frabjous Finds - Little People Project

Sometimes you come across things that are so great you just have to share them with the rest of the world. I tend to be one of those people, duh. I have a blog after all!

I found the Little People Project when I was trying to figure out how to switch this blog off this email and onto another. Obviously, I got a little sidetracked! I want all of these photos. For crying out loud, Iwant to have begun this myself. It's so clever and so charming!

Slinkachu has a book. "A frivolity to spend your hard earned cash on!"

Look at these...! I giggle every time I see them. I need to start a Pinterest page just for these teeny street people.



Tourists



They're Not Pet's, Susan


Wet 'n' 'Wild

Paddington Doorway





Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Frabjous Finds - French Fashion

Let's face it, the French have always been enviable. In culture, in cuisine, in the arts and of course in fashion.

I found these dresses today while searching for something to wear with my pantalons. That's right I have real old fashioned knickers and they need a companion ensemble. I like to imagine I'll be working in the garden with these here frocks and my sun hat with sweet peas, poppies and peonies coming out my doodle!

On a serious note theses are so very romantic and I want each and every one! Let me know what you think.
With my bloomers!





So romantic
Another one for my knickers!
Luncheon al fresco perhaps?

Something to read a book in on the porch.




'It seems very pretty,' she said when she had finished it, 'but it's rather hard to understand!' 'Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas—only I don't exactly know what they are!" Alice in Wonderland 

Frabjous: Possibly a blend of fairfabulous, and joyous. Definition from Oxford English Dictionary, credited to Lewis Carroll.