Archive for July, 2014

SUMMER SALAD STAPLES

Friday, July 25th, 2014

summer salad staples

Salad is a go-to on hot days.  Of course it is healthy, but more importantly, making a salad doesn’t heat up your kitchen {or make you sweaty!}.  I have been using these summer salad staples on a weekly basis.  The Chopped Summer Garden Blend is the ultimate base on which to build a salad.  I love the bite size pieces and the cabbage gives it a great crunch.  The first time I bought this salad mix in the produce section, I noticed it had a recipe for a lime dressing on the back.  Being VERY lazy in the summer, I ventured over to the salad dressings.  Low and behold, Paul Newman hooked me up!  Newman’s Own Lite Lime Vinaigrette is the bomb!  Seriously.  The zing of lime makes everything taste SUPER fresh and delicious.  Salad is obvious, but I also used this mix and dressing for a slaw on fish tacos.  DeeLish.

Looking for an easy summer salad?

BBQ Chicken Salad w Lime Vinaigrette

BBQ Chicken Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Chopped Summer Garden Blend

Diced Grilled Chicken

Black Beans {drained and rinsed}

Fresh Avocado {diced}

Corn {grilled, if possible}

Red and Yellow Pepper {diced}

Toss with Lime Vinaigrette.  Serve into individual bowls and top with your favorite barbeque sauce.

 

{JUNE LOVES} BROOKS HERITAGE COLLECTION

Tuesday, July 15th, 2014

10_GROUP_ALL

Brooks Running Company is turning 100 and they are celebrating with a collection of fantastic throw back sneakers!  It is hard to resist these retro cool styles in bright fun colors.  Check out the entire Heritage Collection.

Which is your favorite?

brooks running heritage

I actually loved the colors from the Men’s collection but my feet are too small. My top pick would be the Women’s Vantage in green.

 

SCENES FROM OUR WEEK

Monday, July 14th, 2014

scenes from our week

Wow!  Our week was non-stop!  When the weather is beautiful, you just can’t help but get up with sun and wait for the stars.  A few nights we didn’t leave the lake until well after 9pm.  The benefits of lots of light and warm evenings are hard to measure.

A few scenes from our week:

1.  We joined a kayak gang!  My boys used their own money and purchased kayaks on Monday. {We were lucky and found them on sale at Sports Authority.} They paddled everyday.  We work as a team to get them to and fro, but they are quite light and fit perfectly in the back of my car.

2.  Chilled Rose is quite possible the perfect summer wine.  I am sipping it every night.  Miradou is a good wine a great price!

3.  Summer.  Friends.  That’s all.

4.  We discovered saki slushies at Tom Douglass’ Tanaka San.  Hmmm, grown up slurpees?  Yes, please.

Have a great week.

 

DRESS FOR A HEAT WAVE

Friday, July 11th, 2014

sunny long weekend

It is a legitimate heat wave! When temperatures hover around 90 degrees in Seattle, things get a little nutty.  I, for one, L O V E it!  We are heading into another GORGEOUS weekend and it is shaping up to be an amazing summer.

I came across the blog of illustrator Cindy Mangomini.  Her fashion illustrations are fantastic. { I wish I had an ounce of her artistic talent.}  Check out how she styled and sketched the must haves for a sunny long weekend {above} and a day at the beach {below}.  I am taking notes!

day at the beach

Check out the rest of her perfectly styled work.

Have a great weekend.  Stay cool. xoxo

 

A FAVORITE MOVIE LINE

Wednesday, July 9th, 2014

crazy-stupid-love-hannah-and-jacob

There are lines in movies that just stick with you.  Sometimes they are poetic or thought provoking.  Sometimes they are just laugh out loud funny!  My favorite line in Crazy, Stupid, Love. is during the scene when Emma Stone {Hannah} goes home with Ryan Gosling {Jacob} for the first time.

“Will you take your shirt off?  F#*k!  Seriously?  It’s like your Photoshopped!”

So good, right?  She said what everyone was thinking. I love that!  I wasn’t a huge Ryan Gosling fan before I saw this movie.  {I know!  All of you Notebook fans just audibly gasped.}  However, there is something about him.

Rumor has it that he is going to have a baby with Eva Mendez.  That might possibly be the best looking offspring, EVER!

What are your favorite movie lines?

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

GALLERY WALL INSPIRATION

Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

Where is June?| simple gallery wall

If you follow me on Pinterest, you already know about my small obsession with gallery walls.  I have pinned and pinned and pinned.  I want one, badly.  The problem is – I have done nothing.  Well, that is not entirely true.  I have purchased three pieces that I love.  They all happen to be black and white.  I am clearly drawn to clean and simple.  The gallery walls above reflect a monochromatic or a simple aesthetic.  On the total flip side, I love walls that are colorful, eclectic, and haphazard.

Where is June?| Eclectic gallery wall

What is a girl to do?  Here are my problems/questions:

1.  A gallery wall can be expensive to get going.  You have to find the pieces and frame each one!  Yikes – that can add up.  I have three pieces that I think are a good start.  {However, like I said above they are all black and white.}  Is three enough?  Should I add color to the mix?

2.  The frames themselves also pose a dilemma.  Do you choose the same color or go for all the frames different?  I like the look of mixed frame color and I think it will be easier in the long run.   That is easier said than done.  I love vintage frames.  Where do you find those?  Mats or no mats?

3.   Do I stick with all prints or do I toss in a few photos?  I kind of love the idea of framing some Instagram shots from our travels and adventures.  They would be easy to change frequently so the wall is always current and interesting.  Good idea?

And again my head is swimming and my dining room wall stands bare.  HELP!  Anyone out there have amazing tips and is willing to share?  Do tell!

Collected images via

SCENES FROM OUR WEEK

Monday, July 7th, 2014

A WEEK IN THE SUMMER

I hope you had a wonderful long, holiday weekend.  Ours was full of water, sun, friends and fun!  So much fun, that Big Will was in bed asleep at 5:30pm Sunday night.  The forecast shows the great weather continuing this week and summer rolls on!

Here are just a few snap shots from our week {from top left, clockwise}:

1.  Sporting my new camo pants.  I love the feminine camouflage pattern and the touch of purple.  They are meant to be ankle jeans, but when you are 5’0″ that isn’t the case.  Somehow with the zippers it works.

2.  Little Man is loving the water balloon sling shot we gave Aaron for Father’s Day.  Hours of fun.  Filling, tying, slinging and getting wet!

3.  Big W picking raspberries to make jam.  Raspberry freezer jam is the sweetest and easiest jam to make!  You could do it today.

4.  Totally obsessed with this bag from Salt Surf.  I tossed all my essentials in it for a quick singles match with my sweet husband.  This color is sold out on their website, but they have other colors available.

Have a great week!

 

 

Where is June?

 

  • Glad You’re Here!

  • Simple Practices

  • Archives

  • Subscribe

    Enter your email address