So glad...

...that I decided to plant those gladiolus bulbs this spring.  They are in full bloom and there are so many different colors and varieties.  They are the perfect flower for cutting and bringing inside - long lasting and so pretty!


Linking to: Pure Style Home "Pure Project #12"!

Favorite Things: Part 4

This spring I was on a huge green tea and honey kick.  Not as much lately with the warm weather, but I really love the iced green tea from Panera, so maybe I should just put it over ice?  I think I'll try that. 
So far this is my favorite variety, but I am no tea connoisseur by any means.  There's just something relaxing to me about tea (and coffee).  Really more of a state-of-mind thing most of the time - love curling up (or waking up....or working with...or running errands with...) a nice cup of something.  And if it's tea, it's good for you, right?  Gotta get those antioxidants!

Favorite Things: Part 3

I haven't bought (or received....hint, hint) a nice perfume in quite a few years.  I was looking for something inexpensive and light, and I came across this solid perfume while perusing L'Occitane a few months ago (translation: looking to spend a gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket!).

I've always had a thing for rose scents.  I think it dates back to a rose-y Victoria's Secret lotion my Grandma Mickie used to wear ("Her Magesty's Rose" I think?), and then my mom and I found Evelyn Rose at Crabtree and Evelyn which was very similar.

This is also very similar and was only $9.  Plus, it's easy to carry and comes in that sweet little tin!

I'm still in the market for an eau de toilette, though.....any suggestions?

Favorite Things: Part 2

This fave was actually a suggestion from the "what's your favorite beauty product" giveaway a while back. Camilla from High Heeled Foot in the Door recommended these minty lip glosses from C.O. Bigleow (via Bath & Body Works).

WARNING: they are a little bit addicting. Not only minty and fresh, but delicious. Ok, that's weird, but they do taste good! Ha! You won't be able to resist licking your lips. :-)

Time to head back to good ol' B&B, these three tubes are now empty and it's time for a refill. I love them all, but I must say that the Cinnamint (in the middle) was my most favorite.

Favorite Things: Part 1

A while back I had a notion to post about a bunch of my favorite things. I even took all the pics and uploaded them, but never quite got aroun to the posts. So, here goes! The first was a gift from a friend who was visiting, and I fell in love immediately. This Tocca candle (Grace scent) smells AMAZING and I love everything about it, including the beautiful box. I keep it on the piano in our foyer and light it whenever we have company. It's not too perfume-y; just a nice light scent. And the best part? The tiny little matchbook that comes with the candle and fits perfectly in the box. How cute is that?! Do you have any favorite candles? What a perfect hostess gift. Thank you, Allison!

Always makes me happy

Having fresh-cut flowers in the house always makes me happy. I thought I'd share these pictures from a couple of weeks ago when all my peonies were in bloom. They smelled soooo good, and I was so sad to see them go. I also love this idea from Pure Syle Home - anything green brings a little bit of the oudoors in and feels so refreshing and pretty. (Also LOVE her shed / playhouse idea.) And I was trying to get every last bit out of my annviersary roses. And seeing them in this jar reminds me I need to post about my big flea market adventure with my good friend Jamie. More to come!

The List

I made some progress on my list last....er...two weekends ago (holy cow, what did I do last weekend?).  And we finally made our summer list.  Drumroll, please......



It was assembled with input from all four family members, and we actually had a good time putting it together.  And you'll see I had to add at least one item toward the bottom, just so I could check it off (please tell me you do that, too!)

And did I ever mention that I finally did the chalkboard door?  In like January.  And it still needs touch ups around the trim.  Add it to the list! (looking at this picture reminds me I also should have put potty training on the list....and hanging those pictures properly!).

{Inspriation for this list: here.}

Organics

I've had my fair share of paranoia about the foods we eat, how they affect our health, and finding the "right" diet for my family and myself.  It can be a little overwhelming.  I read somewhere that up to 30% of cancers are caused by diet.  Anyway, I'm starting to digress, but this article on CNN yesterday caught my eye. 

It summarizes the findings of the Environmental Working Group (they have some interesting fact on sunscreens as well) where they determined which types of produce contain the highest level of pesticides, mostly due to their soft outer skins.  According to the article, ""You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by up to 80 percent by buying the organic version of the Dirty Dozen,"":

The Dirty Dozen

Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce

On the flip side, there are other types of produce that don't have the high levels of pesticides because they have thicker skins:
 
The Clean 15

Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potatoes
Sweet onions

As much as I wish I could buy only organic produce all the time, it's not always possible (or affordable), so I think I'll try to consider the lists above and buy organic where there is a significant advantage to do so.
 
Do any of you worry about these things or have certain philosophies on the way you buy your produce?
 
I recently found out that an organic farm in Wisconsin (Harvest Moon Farms) will be doing weekly produce drops at my office building from June to October.  I decided to split a full share with my co-worker, so I'm really excited to be able to have a variety farm-fresh fruits and veggies each week from a farm that is all organic (and supports genetic diversity in their plants....that's a whole separate topic!).  After splitting the cost two ways and dividing it by 20 weeks, it was really only about $17 / week.  Plus, it saves me some shopping!  :-)
 
I know this post was not that exciting, but just thought I'd share.  I'd love to hear your thoughts as well!
 
P.S.  Can you tell I've watched Food Inc.recently?  :-)

List

I am SOOO looking forward to this long weekend.  I fully intend to relax and enjoy the absolutely perfect weather we have in Chicago right now.  But, as always, I'm already creating a list in my mind of things I'd like to accomplish as well.  

The first item on my list is....well, as list.  I am inspired by the ever-creative Meg at Whatever.  She recently posted their summer list and I am motivated to do the same this year.  I think it will be fun to try and come up with some creative ideas and tackle them this summer.  We live in Chicago and have seriously underutilized some of the things available to us in the beautiful city.  So, this weekend I'm going to start putting my "list" together.

Other things on the long-weekend list:

• Finish putting my plants / flowers in the yard.
• Walk to the farmer's market for fresh donuts (and maybe some fresh veggies, too).  Done!
• Work on a play area for the boys in the backyard (that is really on my hubby's list).
• Clean my room and put ALL the clothes away.
• Some self-pampering, perhaps?  Hair color, bangs trimmed and mani/pedi (all DIY, of course).
• Maybe switch out the boys clothes and find some shorts (poor children...Gabe went to school in jeans on this beautiful day).
• Get through a giant pile of mail.
• Work on thank-you's from my 5-year-old's birthday party (that was TWO months ago...I WILL get them done!).
• Dinner / cookout with friend(s).
• Work on an embroidery project my grandma started me on, oh.....7 years ago? MUST finish for her birthday in two weeks (been trying for every Christmas and birthday since she started me on it....shameful!).
• RELAX.
• Last, but definitely not least, fill the house with some fresh flowers...particularly a bunch of these:

Hope you all have a perfect long weekend, and good luck with your lists, if you have one.  :-)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

We had a spur of the moment Cinco de Mayo celebration tonight.  I stopped by the store on my way home and picked up all the essentials for our little fiesta, including the "margaritas" pictured above (non-alcoholic, as the children were drinking as well :-)).  These were sooooo good.  We haven't made them in a while, but it's just limeade concentrate, a can of water and lots of ice.  Wet the rims of the glasses with a lime (or water) and dip them in bowl of kosher salt before you fill them.

Gotta have chips and guac (avocados were on sale in honor of the day!):

All the fixin's for some chicken tacos....onions, tomatoes, cilantro, cheese:

I caught this guy licking the leftover salt from this glass.  He is his mama's boy.  I love me some salt!  :-)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!