AN INSPIRED LUNCH

June 4th, 2014

breakfast in praiano

It has been just over two weeks since we returned from our amazing vacation to Italy.  I look at pictures every morning to remind myself of our trip.  {I am working on editing pictures and will share about our adventures soon.  Promise!}  This shot from our breakfast table in Praiano makes me smile every time I see it.  This was our view every morning for six mornings!  It was truly unbelievable.  We stayed in a very small {8 room} hotel run by a charming and delightful family.  Arturo took care of us each morning.  Greeting us with “Buon Giorno” and the best coffee in the world!  He also whipped up made-to-order omelets.  Italians don’t eat large breakfasts and rarely do they eat eggs in the morning, so I am sure this was just to keep his guests happy.  Delightfully, his omelets were simply eggs cooked in olive oil and folded over.  Served with fresh herbs and tomatoes-it was perfection!

Earlier this week, I was missing our slice of heaven on the Amalfi Coast, so I cooked myself a lunch inspired by Arturo.  Omelet, sliced tomatoes, sliced cured meat, and orange juice!

an inspired lunch

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

A SUMMER BASH

May 27th, 2014

a summer bash

This past weekend marks the unofficial start to summer.  Team Thomas is ready.  Are you?  I love the relaxed rhythm of summer  This includes impromptu backyard gatherings, which are usually decided upon late in the day with little to no planning!  It is always good to have a few  things on hand so you can easily invite friends over on a whim.  The latest Oh Joy! for Target {Sunny Summer Picnic} collection has summer essentials that are delightfully colorful, stylish and affordable.  I gathered a few of my favorites that I would love to stock in the closet.  Just add hot dogs and ice cream!  The tray is perfectly retro and would look great on a picnic table or on your counter all summer long.  And who doesn’t love a great string of lights?

Check out all of the items in this collection.  Which are your favorites?

Round Serving Tray//Paper Dessert Cups//Food Baskets//European Water Bottle//Lantern String Lights

Oh, and that time I met Joy Cho from Oh Joy!

 

LA DOLCE VITA

May 6th, 2014

CIAO_4

And away we go.  Pinch me because this is real!  If you hadn’t heard, my husband and I are going to Italy.  Today.

I realize I have been quiet these last couple of weeks. {Sometimes life is just nuts.}   I promise to post away upon my return!  Look for travel posts from our visits to Rome, The Amalfi Coast, and to my grandfathers’ “old country”.  Adventure awaits!

Want to come along?  Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @seattlejune.

Ciao!

Image via Gray Malin.

 

CHEEK POP

May 5th, 2014

cheek pop

Just a quick beauty tip today!  A few weeks ago I was wandering through Nordstrom and stopped by the Clinique counter for CC Cream.  I must have been looking a bit drab, because the makeup artist asked if she could put a little blush on my cheeks.  {No offense taken!}  She used Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Berry Pop and it was perfect right away.  I would have bought it just for the gorgeous molded flower design and clear case.  I have worn it everyday since and love, love it.  And then just last week I spotted it in the May issues of O Magazine and W Magazine.  It is great to be ahead of the times!

Happy Monday!  xo

Blush Brush via Sephora

A TREASURED RING

April 24th, 2014

DSC_0038

Years ago, long before I was married myself, my grandmother gave me her engagement ring.  I had asked her for it when I was a young girl {please excuse my lack of tact} and she didn’t forget.  It was wearing thin and she decided to stop wearing so it would be preserved for me.  Crazy, right?  She truly was a one-of-a-kind.  I have kept it safe, but tucked away.  Months ago I came it across it when I was moving accessories into my closet.  I decided it shouldn’t be tucked away.  I wanted to wear it.  However, I have freakishly small hands and it was too large for my finger.  After checking with my mom, I had the ring resized.

When we travel to Italy next month, I will be wearing my grandmother’s ring with two whisper thin gold bands from Catbird. {That makes my heart happy.}  I have been stalking Catbird for quite sometime, so when I decided to resize the ring I was thrilled to be able to buy simple bands to wear with it.   The bands I ordered are stacking rings, meant to be worn together in multiples.  The Mignon Memory Ring and the Twisted Stacker Ring are perfect compliments to my grandmother’s delicate diamond and gold ring.   When I slip this special stack on my finger, I smile.  If she were still here, she would give me a big hug and tell me a story about her ring or my grandfather.  I treasure my memories of her and I treasure her ring.

DSC_0033

 

DSC_0049

Do you have jewelry tucked away from someone dear to you?  I urge you to take it out.  Make it part of your life.  Wear it and love it!

 

TOOTHLESS

April 23rd, 2014

toothless

Little Man is officially toothless.  The second top baby tooth, which was hanging sideways, finally popped out at school this week.  I feel I can make some astute observations now that my youngest is loosing his baby teeth:

1.  Teething was cruel and unusual punishment.

It is has been a long time since I have had a teething baby, but it was pretty miserable.  Just when I thought I had this mothering thing down and I was getting more than 2 hours of sleep at at time, my  little one started breaking teeth and my world was turned upside down.  Both of my boys were extreme droolers.  A shirt would be soaked in a matter of minutes.  Everything went in their mouth.  Everything!  However the worst was at night.  They would wake up screaming and were often hard to settle down.  A preemptive strike with Tylenol would sometimes help and I called those natural teething tablets my ultimate savior.  {What the heck are those made of?}  It was exhausting for all involved.  Funny how excited they are about loosing their teeth.  If only they knew how hard it was for them to “get” them.

2.  The lisp is outrageously adorable.

Little Man is now talking with a bit of a lisp.  Without out those two front teeth it is impossible to enunciate correctly.  When ever he is telling me something serious or trying to get his point across, I am secretly giggling inside.  Hard to take a man with an adorable, toothless lisp seriously.

3.  The tooth fairy is actually kind of freaky.

Little Man will not leave his teeth under his pillow.  I thought for sure he would be super stoked to get some cold hard cash for his teeth.  Even a little extra money is not worth it to him.  The thought of some fairy sneaking into his room and reaching under is pillow is enough to put him over the edge.  He is a boy that thinks very literal.  Things are black or white in his world.  He is not interested in a stranger coming into his room – even if it is a fairy leaving money.

What are your “teeth” stories?  I know you’ve got them!

 

A GOOD STRETCH

April 21st, 2014

MHB

One of my greatest joys in life is being physically active.  It saves my sanity.  I run, attend boot camp, love barre class, and ride a spin bike occasionally.  In the past, I have trained for road races {including a marathon} and triathlons.  I find that although recovery may take a bit longer, I am still doing pretty well with endurance, strength, and balance.  However, my flexibility needs a ton of work and it only seems to be getting worse.  Growing up as a gymnast, I suppose I have taken flexibility for granted.  My hamstrings and hips are so tight I cannot do a static stretch without my legs quivering.  Not good.

I recently read that flexibility can help your body reach its optimum fitness level, may play a role in injury prevention, and can even contribute to staving off conditions like arthritis and more serious illnesses. Ok, time to take my flexibility more seriously.

I am committing to add stretching into my life {somehow}!  I would like to a yoga class {or DVD} at least once a week and stretch 10 minutes a day.  I can do that, right?

Do you find you are struggling with flexibility?

Here are a few resources I found interesting/helpful:

1. How to improve Flexibility

2. Increase your flexibility and improve your life {Bold statement!}

3. 6 Stretches for a long, limber body  {Yes, please.}

4.  Leg Stretches that Increase Flexibility for Dancers and Gymnasts  {Going to use this for my 10 minutes of stretching.}

retro gymnastics

Top image: Mary Helen Bowers from Ballet Beautiful

 

STREET STYLE // MY STYLE

April 17th, 2014

street style

Do I dare where white?  It is a risk when you are raising two boys!  I am totally in love with two looks I have been spotting as I stalk the web.  The first is white on white.  It looks crisp and put together, even if it is jeans and a casual top. The second is white denim and sneakers.  Why not combine the two for my latest Street Style // My Style? I am all in!  My lifestyle is 100% casual, so I am thinking the perfect white T, cropped white denim, and sneakers.  You could totally justify having three different pair of sneakers, right?  Well, that is three different looks just by changing your shoes.  I am nothing if not practical.

white on white

What do you think?  Will you wear white on white plus sneaks?  And by the way.  Perforated high tops.  They are now on my wish list.

 V-Neck T//Ankle Jeans//Chuck Taylor:All Stars//Leopard Print Slip On//Gold Slip On//Gray High Tops//Black High Tops

{Top images via my Street Style Pinterest board}

P.S. The first Street Style // My Style and a Spring Uniform.

 

 

WORLD’S TOUGHEST JOB

April 16th, 2014

out of the picture

Have you seen the video below?  It is so, so good!  Just hit play.

Oh my goodness, the comments!  How can you not smile?

A little intense.  That’s crazy.  A sick twisted joke.  Almost cruel.  No, that’s inhumane.  Insane.  No, nobody would do that for free.

For all you moms out there,  thank you for all you do to make this planet a beautiful place.  We are all in this together {but sometimes not in the picture}.  xoxo

 

THE HERBFARM

April 15th, 2014

the herb farm

On Sunday evening, Aaron and I had the chance to dine at The Herbfarm.  Located a short drive northeast of Seattle, it is quite the experience.  It was a gorgeous day and we were able to tour the herb gardens before dinner under blue skies.  The tour, given by one of the owners, was quite educational.  Did you know that tulip petals are edible?  Me either.  They taste a bit like spinach.

Seating was at 4:30 and so began our 9-course meal!  The theme for the evening was A Walk in the Woods-An Exploration of Foods and Flavors from the Early Spring Woods.  The chef and Sommelier gave us a detailed description of each course and its wine pairing.

Herbfarm Menu

I consider myself pretty adventurous with food, especially if I don’t have to cook it.  The beauty of The Herbfarm is that you make no decisions, so the adventure just comes to you!  The menu is set and the wine is chosen.  You just have to sit back and enjoy!  My favorites were the first two courses and the last (although the cod and a mini-grilled cheese were amazing as well!).  A deep-fried farm, fresh egg?  Uh, yes please!  Every dish was beautifully presented.   The variety of service ware was unbelievable.  Each dish or plate perfectly complimented the course being served.  {It’s all in the details.}  The meal lasts about 4 hours, so I took a half-time break and went out to feed The Herbfarm pigs.  It felt great to stretch my legs, walk a bit and catch the last moments of sunlight.

I wanted to take pictures of all the courses, but I got distracted.  And let’s be honest, iPhone photos of food in a dimly lit room are not always appetizing.  I had to include my snapshot of our last course {Roots and Twigs}, french pressed coffee, and the last glass of wine.  The color is off, but you get the idea.

dessert

Looking for a splurge?  Celebrating in a big way?  I am telling you, The Herbfarm is the place.  Or if you want to go on a random Sunday night for no reason at all…..that’s good too!

 

Where is June?

 

  • Glad You’re Here!

  • Simple Practices

  • Archives

  • Subscribe

    Enter your email address