Showing posts with label Monday musings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monday musings. Show all posts

Monday, April 15, 2013

Monday Musings




How true!  No one will remember what clothes you wore today but they will remember that you took the time to really ask "how are you?" and talk to them.  When you follow up a conversation by remembering what they mentioned last time...you have a friend for life.  

Happy Monday







Monday, March 4, 2013

Monday Musings


Happy first Monday in March.  We have the first day of spring to look forward to this month as well as Saint Patrick's day.  
I visited my daughter in the Philadelphia area.  We stopped into one of my favorite places,  Terrain.  
Love this tiered succulent planter.

A dramatic mantel display of tiny daffodils.

My daughter selected some succulents and they planted them in a glass tray for her.  

I can't wait to garden outside.  I signed up for my neighborhood garden plot last week and I'm thinking about new vegetables to try this year.  
I purchased a packet of nasturtium seeds.  I haven't grown them in a few years and they are a pretty flower and are edible with a peppery flavor, great in salads.

For now I need to be patient.  It is still very cold in Michigan with snow on the ground.  

Enjoy the start to your week.




Monday, February 18, 2013

Monday Musings

Welcome back from what I hope was a peaceful weekend.  

Did you see T, the NY Times Style magazine on Sunday?  This issue heralds the redesigned magazine and features women's spring fashion.  I had great fun reading the articles and looking at ads.  Here are a few highlights. 
Style icon, Lee Radziwill, photographed here in her Paris apartment, is the centerpiece of the magazine.  Read the article here and then watch her video interview with Sofia Coppola here where she talks about Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger and Truman Capote among other things.
Tweaked versions of classics.

Print on Print

Choose a pattern and stick with it.  NY Times T magazine
How divine?  From an article about Mérida, Mexico.
I've begun to gather the paperwork for my 2012 taxes.  That got me to examine some of my statements, plans and contracts.  You may want to:
  • Check bank statement to see if you being charged fees that could be eliminated.  
  • Are you using all of your minutes on your phone plan or could you reduce the plan and save money.  
  • How about your internet and cable service?  Have you bundled these services (maybe with a land line?) to save money.
  • Review your insurance policies to make sure you have enough coverage but also not too much. (I had a friend who forgot to tell her insurance company that she sold one of her cars.  She had paid unnecessary insurance for 2 years!)
I called my cable provider to discuss downgrading my plan because I watch so little TV and never HBO or Starz.  Turns out I will save $20 a month and keep my same plan. The customer service person eliminated some charges, such as the DVR rental.  A simple phone call was all it took to save $240/year.
I think my email account was hacked so I changed the passwords for all of my accounts and changed the privacy setting on Facebook and other social media sites.  I entered the new passwords in my LockBox app because I'll never remember them.  

So, I was feeling safe and secure when I went to bed, knowing that my important information was safe again.  BUT I woke up and realized that hubby forgot to put the car in the garage the night before and the car was not locked.  When he opened the car door that morning, it was obvious someone had been in the car.  Luckily there was nothing of great importance and all that was missing were a few dollars stored in the console.  So much for feeling safe.  



Monday, February 11, 2013

Monday Again


Happy Monday dear Spiral Style followers.  I hope you had a lovely weekend.  I don't know if I'm quite ready for Monday but I don't seem to have a choice.
                                               Source: camillestyles.com via Deborah on Pinterest

A little something to think about as we start our week.

The east coast was slammed with winter storms and many of us are still struggling to keep warm.  
 












Quilts and quilted clothing are essential for warmth.  As a style statement, the quilted look is not limited to the classic Chanel bag and Barbour jackets.

Quilted


Monday, February 4, 2013

Monday Musings


Happy Monday!  I saw this image on Pinterest and had to share.  I love the warm, gray color of the mug and the matte nail polish.

Speaking of color, this is the time of year I get the itch to do some interior style change and paint a room.  I'm starting out small and thinking the powder room could use a change.
I'm tired of the pistachio green.
It certainly doesn't work with my otherwise turquoise and terracotta color scheme.


So I'm looking for other color ideas.
Source: houzz.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Sunny yellow?

Do I go bold?
Source: tumblr.com via Deborah on Pinterest

A little more red?
I think it will be Benjamin Moore Suntan Yellow.  
This is one of my favorite colors.  It is yellow with some orange and is evokes a sunny day in Tuscany.  It will work well with  my turquoise and terracotta hues.  

Well thanks for letting me run this by you.  Let me know what you all think about my choice.  What color is your powder room? 

Happy Monday everyone

Monday, January 21, 2013

Monday Musings

Happy Monday

my photo
It is very cold here in Michigan and a large "au lait" would be most welcome this morning.
my photo
My favorite latte bowls are the ones from Anthropologie.

I spent a good portion of the weekend tending to my computer.  I deleted over 2,000 photos (gasp!)  and upgraded my operating system.  I discovered a problem I didn't know I had which is frustrating but I can work around it, for now. 
I freshened up the looks by using a new photo for my screen saver both on the computer and my iphone.  It makes me smile to see a photo that brings back happy memories of a fun event.  

Now I'm ready for a new week.  Hope you are too.







Monday, January 7, 2013

Monday Musings


Happy Monday everyone.  I hope you feel rested and relaxed from the weekend.  My weekend was a nice mix of entertainment and exertion.  
Hubby and I saw Anna Karenina with some friends.  Have you seen the movie?  We both read the book and thought the theatrical (literally) adaptation was creative and engaging.  Reading reviews of the movie, you'll have to decide for yourself.  At the very least, it was visual eye-candy. 
While boxing the Christmas decorations, hubby asked if there weren't some things we could get rid of in the basement.  I immediately handed him 3 boxes of his things to "edit and delete", which he did.  That lead to a frenzy of sorting, tossing and re-boxing for giveaway.  I decided I could live without my kindergarten report card and old newspaper clippings.  Hubby pitched his military paperwork and old house construction receipts.  We decided that it was time to get rid of the toys we were holding on to from our children.  If we have grandchildren, I don't want them putting those decades old toys in their mouths!!
I made some comfort food for the weekend.  Sunday night was creamy polenta and beef ragu based on this recipe.  I also made chicken chili, another hearty meal for a cold night.  

Tomorrow I'll share a new baking book and cookie recipe.  
Have a great start to your week.


  



Monday, December 3, 2012

Let Them Eat Candy

Welcome back from the weekend.  I hope you had some good rest time and did something fun.  I went to see Skyfall, the new James Bond movie.  Loved it.

At holiday time I like to make candy.  There is something about using a candy thermometer that attracts me.  I like the chemistry of the whole thing.  Anyway, I like to make candy to give as gifts.  

I shared the recipe for Almond Buttercrunch here.

If you walk into a Williams-Sonoma store this time of year you will probably be offered some of their famous Peppermint Bark.  You can easily make this yourself.  The recipe is right here.  Just be sure to use high quality bar chocolate and not chocolate chips or the white and dark chocolate layers will separate.  Be sure the first layer cools for 10 minutes before topping with the white chocolate layer.

All ready to give as a hostess gift.

Even the cookies I made have candy in them.  I used this recipe substituting a bag of holiday colored M&M's in place of the semi sweet choc chips and Reese's Pieces candies.

I made salted caramels as well but they need to cool before I can cut and wrap them.  I'll show you another day.

Happy Monday

Monday, November 26, 2012

Monday Musings

Welcome back from the holiday weekend.  
I hope your Thanksgiving was "food and fun filled" as well as relaxing.  
After a hectic week and a full day of cooking on Thursday, I took great delight in purging the condo of all autumnal decor on Friday.  This was followed by a thorough cleaning and then setting the holiday mood with lights and trimmings.
Winters are quite gray here in Michigan and I decided to go with lights.  Rather than attaching lighted garland to the railing, I spread the greenery along the edge of the loft under the rail.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  
Feels cozy inside...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.


Have a wonderful week.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Monday Musings

Welcome back from what I hope was a deliciously relaxing weekend.

I'm back from the Bahamas and I must say that the sun and 70 degree temperatures in Michigan on Sunday made me feel if I was still on vacation.  Upon entering the US at the Miami airport I was greeted by one of the first harbingers of the holiday season...the festive Starbucks cup.  The next nod to the holidays was seeing Christmas decorations lit in my neighborhood!!!  So, I decided to hang up the fake, lighted, garland on my deck while it was warm rather than in freezing my fingers off and doing it in the snow later on.  No, it is not plugged in nor adorned with bows as of yet.

Mossimo fur scarf $19.99
I took a quick trip to Target Sunday afternoon for milk and toothpaste and came home with this!  This little fur scarf has a loop to pull the opposite end of the scarf through to make a great neck warmer.  Sure, it is fake but it feels real soft, and warm.  

A cute way to enhance a coat or sweater for just $20!
So what is on your "to do" list this week?  I'm planning to order my Christmas party invitations and plan the menu for the party.  I'll be trying some new recipes that I'll share with you too.

Have a great week, no matter what you do.




Monday, October 8, 2012

Monday Musings


Autumn is definitely here in southeast Michigan.  The weather is cool, the skies are gray and for now, the leaves are beautiful hues of orange, red and yellow.  
Hubby and I decided it was time we finally visit the Eastern Market in Detroit.  We have read about it for years but never put it on the calendar.  We live near several great Farmers Markets and shop them regularly but we thought we'd explore something new.

image Jonathan Oosting | MLive.com

I did not expect to see such a beautiful structure housing a market and this is just one of the buildings on the 43 acres of the Eastern Market.  Open since 1891, up to 40,000 people vist the more than 250 vendors each Saturday.  

 These modern "sheds" are bright, clean, and spacious.

There are vendors outside of the sheds along covered walkways.

The variety and freshness of food is outstanding.

 Prior to shopping we had a delicious breakfast at the Russel Street Deli.
I had scrambled eggs with peppers, basil, asiago and provolone cheese.  Great homefries too!

I came upon this great shop, Savvy Chic.

Stepping into the shop is like entering Provence.  The eclectic boutique carries vintage and new home and garden goods, food items, art and vintage clothing.  I went home with a scented candle.

Several vendors caught my eye but I ran out of time.  I'll head back to the market soon...maybe to shop for the Thanksgiving Feast.



You may have noticed this "button" at the lower right of each photo.  If you click on it, you can pin the photo to one of your Pinterest boards.  It is a great way to save a recipe, idea, or an image for future recall.  Happy Pinning!  

Have you read Gone Girl?  
This book was a huge hit over the summer.  I got tired of waiting for my reserve request at the library and purchased it for my Kindle.  I thought it was a really dark suspense read.  Have you read it?  What did you think?

Have a spectacular beginning to a new week.



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