Simple Sunday

I was the only one up for literally hours this morning...love a quiet Sunday with lots of coffee, time to knit...even better new yarn!....and a blustery rain outside. On Pinterest, I came across this image that I love. What a beautiful idea for simple holiday cookies. Love the idea of using vintage crystal glasses as a cookie press. The imprints are enchanting and would look so pretty dusted with confectionery sugar. I believe this photo is from the blog Babes In Boyland. So perfect for the season ahead.

 

Love this!

I've been eating lots  of salads lately which have worked fine with the warm September weather but with October nearly here I need some good, cozy soups that are in line with my gluten free, carb free eating. I love broccoli soup and this recipe from Closet Cooking sounds perfect. Roasted broccoli and garlic, bit of cream and cheddar....great for cooler evenings!

Check out Closet Cooking for this yummy recipe!

Perfect Sunday

I am reading a really great new debut novel. A friend recommended The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell and I'm completely addicted. If you're looking for a good cozy autumn read...you have to grab this book!

With my new clean eating routine...I've read lots about watching your blood sugar and how it relates to inflammation. I've also come across a lot of research suggesting that even diet drinks can cause a spike. So, with that in mind, I've given up diet sodas.....and at first I thought it would be impossible for me. But really I think I just like the carbonation. I've switched to natural seltzers waters and I love them. No sweeteners at all...a really good choice for me. Polar offers a cranberry-lime selection that I just love.

Autumn Arrival

I could do fall all year round. By far my favorite season.....I love the temperature, colors, cozy sweaters...everything. After a super crazy week....today is my quiet day. I'm reading a great book and in the middle of a knitting project. Still keeping gluten, sugar and carb free....my experience with "clean eating" continues to amaze me. My inflammation and pain from frozen shoulder that had consistently plagued me over the last nearly three years (a bit over two years ago it was my left shoulder for twenty or so months. More recently now my right shoulder)  continues now to be virtually nonexistent. My range of motion is slowly returning but my shoulder joint pain disappeared when I gave up gluten and sugar....literally the results were within a day or two...I still cannot believe the difference. Until I experienced this myself, I never really understood the tie in between auto immune disorders, inflammation and gluten. Since altering my eating, I have a lot more energy and I'm sleeping so well at night.

This journey is a lifestyle change for me. I'm at day 32 and I'm down thirteen pounds. Earlier this past week, I happily marched a pair of now far too big jeans out to the garbage tote...I was thrilled! I had worn those jeans to death because I refused to size up even when they were getting far too snug. 

Have a great weekend! xo

New Light

It's been a enlightening month here with so much new. New season ahead....autumn is my favorite. Fresh school year. And an amazing healthy perspective on diet and health. 

First....knitting wise...here's one of two projects I'm currently working on. I love the three yarns I'm working with...so soft and such great variation of texture and tone. I'm about half way done with this long, wrappy scarf.

I've just started a new book recommended over dinner by a friend. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. It's a wonderful novel for long autumn nights of reading.

I haven't posted in a while as I was going through a health situation with inflammation in my shoulder. I was diagnosed, for the second time in three years, with frozen shoulder. This time, my right shoulder joint was completely locked down. Being my prominent arm, the crazy pain and stiffness impacted my knitting, cooking, getting ready in the morning....absolutely everything. This second bout was going on five months when recently a friend at book club asked me if I was gluten sensitive. I had no idea. Since April, I had x-rays, MRI's, acupuncture, physical therapy and a cortisone shot. Nothing helped. But no one spoke to me about my diet or food choices. I had not considered gluten at all. 

I told me friend I would eliminate gluten if she thought there could be a tie in.....I would try anything at this point. I also had two glasses of wine at this point so maybe I was just extra agreeable! The next day I cut out wheat, gluten and sugar. Within two days my pain level dropped to nearly zero. I thought it was probably a fluke but enjoyed my new found comfort. As days went by the pain stayed nearly nonexistent. Slowly now my range of motion is starting to come back. I think that my diet was contributing to inflammation throughout my system. I notice far less puffiness in my face, hands and feet. I cannot describe how much healthier I feel. I will be posing recipe links inline with my new food choices! xo

Amazing Talent

While looking at Pinterest, I came across this dreamy Etsy shop and was completely blown away. This artist creates the most magical doll accessories....her work is just breathtaking! My daughters have a white wooden doll house and these pieces would be such a wonderful addition! Take a peek at the full shop, Taylor Couture, right here.

Knitting By The Lake

Knitting on vacation is one of my very favorite things about summer. I'm going to Lake Placid soon and I grabbed some ShiBui yarn yesterday. I love the combination of mohair and silk. The color is so rich and vibrant. I'm adding to this some yarn I already had.....a great Manos del Uruguay silk blend (30% silk with70% merino extrafine wool.) I'm making a cozy, wide wrappy scarf. xo

Newly Noted

Looking to be inspired for dinner, I was searching through Pinterest for a white bean quesadilla recipe and I evidently got off track! I instead came across this amazing stationary store on Etsy. You can take a peek at Knot & Bow right here! They have the best gift wrapping selection I have seen on Etsy....super charming! Love all of these great tags......xoxo

Take Note

Sometimes it's the tiniest things that make things cheerful and simple! I am constantly picking up these Laura Ashley note cards whenever I come across them. I have a few boxes in different colors. These vivid summery ones are my current favorite. There are fifty in a boxed set with envelopes and I use them literally all the time. They're a simple flat card with contrasting trim....about 3 x 5 inches in size. I send thank you notes & teacher notes but mostly I use them as gift tags. I punch a hole and tie them onto gifts with ribbon. They are so cute for kids birthday presents! I also use them as mailing labels for packages I'm sending out. They're not adhesive but only take a second with clear packaging tape. Such a great find! xo

Kitchen Nook

I love a cozy kitchen....one with a perfect mix of modern functionality and old world charm. It's timeless to me and inviting. I recently came across a great site for kitchen accessories. Love Sir/Madame...you can peek at their collection on their website. There is a list of retail locations as well. Here are a couple of my very favorite items! xo

love these herringbone napkins!

Blustery Morning

It's so cold and rainy here this morning and I'm completely thinking of luxurious scarf projects. I've been a bit obsessed with mohairs and finer gauge projects. I love the idea of a drapey mohair scarf wrap lots of times around. I love mohair bends that have an unexpected nubbiness or texture variation. I found this one forever ago on Pinterest. Sadly, I have no artist info on it but it's just perfect....inspiring with such creative detail. xo

I saw a great review for a book that I'm going to start later this week. After I'm Gone by Laura Lippman. You can peek at The New York Times review right here. It looks fantastic for a stormy summer night!

Cool Drink

I love breezy weekend afternoons with a cool drink. I could live on iced tea. We grow mint in the yard...it tastes so simple and fresh. I am now part of an online book club that my sorority sisters and I have just put together. It may be twenty five years since I was in college but I love these girls and in a matter of days we now have 41 members reading the same selection and then discussing the book in four weeks time. The book we went with is a memoir: Mennonite In A Little Black Dress bu Rhoda Janzen. It is laugh out loud funny and so smartly written. You can look at the New York Times review here.

As much as I enjoy summer, I think often of the cooler days ahead. Autumn and winter are very much my favorite times of year. I came across the magical image on Pinterest.....xo

Simply Splendid

I think I can be a tad obsessive. When I am really loving something it is on my mind all the time. I am loving every second of reading "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes. I bought it for a friend as a gift. She was recuperating from surgery. I was reading it at the same time. I hope the ever so constant dings of my texts didn't disturb her rest...as the more I read the more I wanted to talk about it!! xo

 On just a slightly less, oh my gosh note...I very much love this pillow I came across at Pottery Barn. It's just so pretty and charming and an unexpected accent. I cannot wait to order it! You can peek at the details here.

I have the perfect cream reading chair...just love this pillow!

Summer Project

I completely love the Mirasol Api yarn that I bought not long ago. I grabbed three skeins (at 120 yards each) to make a wrappy scarf for fall. It's the perfect thick/thin texture...great blend of half alpaca and half highland wool. Handcrafted in Peru. Love the muted chocolate tones.  I'm using classic Takumi Clover wooden needles size 9 US. I cast on 33 stitches. Great project for this rather breezy, cool July week. Happy Knitting! xo

Nothing Like A Good Book

So many thunderstorms here this week! I love a strong storm....nothing better than a good book, a tall glass of sweet tea and thunder rolling in. Two of my very favorite recommendations for summer reading are The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro and The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian. Both books stayed with me long after I finished them. Such great, great reads! Do you have a favorite book you love to recommend? xo

Traveling In Time

I was up early today having coffee on the front covered porch. I love cool mornings when no one else on the street is up and around. Yesterday I started reading The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams. It opens telling the story of Vivian in 1964 who receives a mysterious suitcase belonging to a great aunt, Voilet, she knew nothing of. Violet's story alternates with Vivian's....with Violet overseas in 1912.  A perfect novel that completely draws you in from page one.

You can read an excerpt here from Good Housekeeping Magazine.

I was on Etsy and Pinterest this weekend and came across this stunning wrap that I just fell in love with. It's created with beautiful, luxurious merino wool and has such clean lines. Peek here at the Etsy shop of artist Elena Rosenberg. Her work is amazing!

Holiday Food

I love cooking out but I'm not a big meat eater. So, while others around my house might be grilling steaks and sliders, I lean more toward portabella mushrooms and crab cakes. I love do love focaccia bread on the grill, too!

I found this yummy recipe on Food 52.  If you have never checked out Food 52...you have to take a peek. Great site for recipes as well as cooking provisions. So inspiring! Take a peek at their terrific site for this full recipe.  A savory combination of glazed shallots, sage, walnuts and goat cheese...it sounds simply amazing! xo

Ball Jars from their provisions collection. So many pretty tea towels, candles, linens....great gathering of essentials!

Happy Day

I am a true blue fan of Pottery Barn. I have been for years. As my style has evolved...I've learned to layer new pieces with old so that my home is filled with so many of my favorite things throughout. I love their PB Pinterest pages as well. That's where I came across these spirited, summery 4th of July pics....you can peek at their page here! Have a wonderful, safe holiday! xo

Patio Days

What I love most about summer are simple weekends on the patio. A patio feels like an entire new, fresh room to your house! Ballard designs has a great site full of amazing decorating ideas. I have a Ballard rug on our covered front porch that has stayed like new through several seasons. Their outdoor collection is just timeless.
 

Another Ballard idea: A simple table is transformed into stunning with the addition of this cloth. Their site has so many amazing entertaining gems!

On a recipe note: I was grilling sliders and crab cakes last night and made a great homemade remoulade sauce. Mixed together: 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup spicy brown mustard, smoked paprika to taste and a tablespoon of worcestershire. Super easy & yummy!

Summer Reads

I am a huge devoted reader all year round. It seems though...in the summer...I'm always asking around for reading recommendations. Everyone has so many amazing books that they want to talk about....I love that! Ask on Facebook for a good recommendation, and it's terrific to see all the comments on what people are reading and completely loving. I'm nearly done with The Fever and I adored it! I never read any of Megan Abbott's previous work before...now I'm completely thrilled to have a new author on my list of favorites.

Next up, I'm going to start Defending Jacob by William Landay. I have not read a courtroom crime novel in forever. I lean heavily toward historical fiction. However, a friend told me about this novel just recently and now I'm seeing people raving about it everywhere. You can peek at the New York Times review here. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any  favorites to recommend!

I posted the review above....which reminded me how badly I want to order this tee. Saw it on Piperlime and Pinterest. With a long pendant necklace & little cardigan...this is super cute! 

Monday Morning

I spend a huge chunk of my summer evenings on my front porch. I love how cozy it is...how quiet...perfect for reading or knitting. There have been a couple cool nights lately where I've wanted to grab a light scarf to throw over me...nothing heavy...just a tiny, breezy layer to take the chill away.

I love this scarf here that is from an Etsy shop, called Iki Scarves, located in Bulgaria. The scarves offered are so unique and pretty. You can peek at the shop here! This floral scarf is my favorite....great pattern and the perfect weight for warmer months. Plus it would look super cute all wrapped and knotted in the autumn with jeans and boots.