Thursday's Threads 8.30.12

Yowza.  It's late.  I'm bummin' that I didn't get to this sooner, but I'm packing up the family cruiser tomorrow and we're heading out to visit friends for the long weekend, so I've been a busy little bee today.  But not too busy to find some great threads to share with you before the long weekend...

Today I'm going to focus on one of my absolute most favorite accessories: scarves.  A scarf can transform a simple tee and pants outfit from boring to super chic in almost no time at all.  With just a bit of practice in the art of draping and wrapping, a scarf can become your go-to outfit changer that brightens your day just a bit.  I am a huge fan of scarves, and as the weather begins to cool down a soon, I will be happily wrapping myself in scarves each and every day!


Theodora & Callum makes some really incredible scarves:

Such an interesting and beautiful design and color way.

I am completely gaga over this one.
The colors and pattern are just incredible.

Another great company to go to for scarves is Lemlem:

This one is just gorgeous!
I love it and may have to keep it on my wish list.

Another subtle but beautiful design.

You can never go wrong with good ole red, white, and blue!

For some less expensive options, check out Echo:

Reminds me of the Lemlem scarves above, but much less expensive.

I love the way purple looks against so many skin tones.

Can easily see this on a crisp fall day with jeans.

Oooh, a little pink infinity action?
Seriously.  It's basically a necklace.

And if you need some sparkle?
Check out the cool sequin design on this one.

Of course, I would not be me if I didn't show you some scarves from my favorite, Calypso:

I absolutely love the colors and pattern.
Plus, this looks like a large, generously-sized scarf which is always nice.

Adore this one.  The yellow is unusual,
but I love something a little unique.

Animal prints can add an easy touch of spice
to any outfit.
Love me some animal prints.

Oh, and I would be awful if I didn't mention that Calypso is having a 50% off end-of-summer sale until Monday.  Look at some of the beautiful dresses and tops that are marked down:

You've got to love an easy black dress
 with stunning detail on the shoulders and back.

Easy to wear gold dress in Calypso's
signature silk.

Looks sort of blah, right?
It is so much cuter in person than expected.
Can you tell I bought this one for myself?

I'm not sure if you can see the incredible
jeweled detail along the neckline and collar,
but it is truly gorgeous.

This is a really beautiful
flowy and sort of beachy dress
that can be black tie because of the beading at the top.
Absolutely lovely.

This is a pretty silk top
that hangs loosely but is not baggy.
Great with a skirt or jeans.

I love, love, love the beading on this top.

This is a cute white tank
that has an accessory built in
(the elaborate necklace).
Love it.

Well, that's all for this week's Threads post.  Now go buy yourself something that you feel really great in and absolutely love for the fall.

365 gratitude project: Days 241 and 242

Day 241 (Monday, August 27):

the day began with a nice walk on the beach

 with the girls and my dad.

we were planning to just walk for a bit,

but the girls couldn't stay out of the water.

their squeals of joy as the waves chased them

were just fantastic.

grateful for the waves and the games we play with them.

Day 242 (Tuesday, August 28):

fun day.

we explored a nearby town

which was lovely and charming,

and had a carousel for the girls to enjoy.

grateful for little adventures and seeing new places.

also grateful for the beautiful bay and the breeze it provided.

Wednesday's Words 8.29.12

Remember what I said two days ago about not posting this week?  Well, forget that.  Things are working out and I have things to share, so ignore what I said.

source

Sad, but true.  As always, be true to yourself, follow your dreams, and pay no attention to those you don't support you.

xoxo

Tuesday's Tales 8.28.12

Ok, so I just couldn't stay away!  Not when I have this beauty to share with you:

We bought this huge book of fairy tales the other day and it is just incredible.  The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm is a collection of over 20 fairy tales that will appeal to both children and adults.  The tales are presented in a captivating and interesting way, and my girls love listening intently as we read them the stories that they already know, but are presented here in a unique way.  (For instance, in "Cinderella,"  the stepsisters both cut off parts of their feet to fit into the glass slipper, but the prince notices the blood oozing out of the shoe.  At the end, crows peck out the stepsisters' eyes as punishment for their horrible behavior.  Just a tad more dark and twisted than the usual telling of "Cinderella.")

Anyway, the stories are all familiar, but the illustrations which are done by a number of different artists are just magical.  The images are so striking and beautiful that all of us want to examine them closely before we can move on and turn the page.  The book is a collection of wonderful fairy tales for children, but it is also a truly incredible example of a children's picture book.  If I didn't have children I think I still would have bought this book for its stunning beauty.

Enjoy!  And I won't tell if you don't want to share it with your kids...

Summer's Almost Over...

...and I'm taking the week off.

I will continue to post my 365 gratitude project photos and anything that I come across that really grabs my attention and must be shared, but I just feel like I need to enjoy this week by focusing on my girls and the end of summer.

However, for everyone's summertime enjoyment, I do have a guest post today from a very smart and talented man - my husband!  He wrote this last week and asked if he could be a guest blogger, so of course I said yes.  For those of you who don't know him, B is an incredibly creative, funny, talented guy, and this guest post is all about having fun on the beach with kids.  Enjoy!

The Family-Beach-Outing Minimalist: 

Seven things to do at the beach with little kids, but with little stuff

Beach Snake: Get beach towel. Choose one person to drag it around on the sand, weaving throughout the other participants. The rest of the group gives chase and attempts to dive onto the towel until the snake is ‘caught’. Alternate roles.

These two had a blast playing beach snake,
but it's usually better with an adult running, holding the towel
while kids follow after, diving for the "snake."

Sunset Beach: Get beach chairs (or towels) for sitting, sweatshirts or blankets, a pizza, and a few beverages. Go to beach just before dusk. Sit in chairs. Eat pizza. Have a few drinks. Let kids play in sand and surf. If it gets chilly, use sweatshirts. Watch the stars and/or moon come out. Tell stories while gazing.

They usually only sit for moments at a time.

Crater-jumping: Dig hole in sand large enough for child to fit into. Let them jump, roll, or slide into it. Variation: Cover hole with towel before entry.




Crab Stew: Get bucket. Fill with some sand and seawater. Let kids add items found from beach (seaweed, shells, etc) to make a ‘stew’. Stir with a piece of driftwood. Add washed-up, half-eaten crabs for an authentic ocean aroma.

Superman: Get towel. Wrap towel around child’s chest, torso, and legs to create a sling. Allow head and arms free to pose as favorite superhero in flight. Grip gathered corners of towel securely and spin. Rest thoroughly between flights.

Jamaican Bobsled: Get a ball or other round object capable of rolling. Make a sand mound. Carve a path for your ball from top to bottom using banked turns, cliffs, jumps, and tunnels. Make multiple paths for racing.




Walking in Your Footsteps: Choose a leader. Leader winds along wet beach so that footprints are clear. Followers follow on footprints. Vary the orientation of feet and length of stride for added effect.

That's all for today.  Who knows?  Maybe I won't be able to stay away, but at least I want to give myself that option if I'm just not feeling it.  But I do have a great book for Tuesday's Tales...

365 gratitude project: Days 234 - 240

Day 234 (Monday, August 20):

(i have been having a bit of technical difficulty

just with this one photo, 

so i apologize about the size.)

we had such an incredible day.

i started off with a bike ride,

and then in the late afternoon we went to

a friend of a friend's house who is an artist.

she has 60 chickens, hens, roosters 

which are the subjects of much of her art.

sounds unusual?

well, it was, but it was great.

then we went to a drum circle on the beach at sunset.

it was incredible.

so relaxed and fun, energizing and beautiful

as the sun set over the dunes.

one of the best days of the summer.

so incredibly grateful for such wonderful

new experiences.

 Day 235 (Tuesday, August 21):

lazy, relaxing afternoon at the beach.

collecting shells, reading books, running in the surf.

perfect.

grateful for summertime.

Day 236 (Wednesday, August 22):

she is up in a tree and very happy to be there.

cute stuff.

grateful for climbing trees

(which i never did as a child!)

and her adventurous spirit.

Day 237 (Thursday, August 23):

 took this photo while out on a bike ride by myself.

such a peaceful hour.

and love how this photo turned out.

grateful for time alone, bike rides, 

and photos that turn out well.

Day 238 (Friday, August 24):

it was a rough day

with cranky kids and a cranky mommy.

but luckily b came back after a week of work.

thank goodness for daddy's return.

grateful for b, my best friend

and sweet guy who helps to cheer me up when i am down.

Day 239 (Saturday, August 25):

on a morning bike ride with my family.

l was on the back of b's bike in one of those child seats,

and p was on a trailer bike attached to the back of my bike.

it was so fun to be together, all four of us, 

exploring the town and giggling away.

grateful for trailer bikes!

Day 240 (Sunday, August 26):

our great day began with a bike ride to the beach 

and a few relaxing moments watching the waves.

then we went to a friend's for lunch

and it was so nice.

we spent five hours eating, laughing, chatting, playing,

and it was wonderful.

so grateful for high school friends and 

the perfect sunday.

365 gratitude project: Days 229 - 233

Day 229 (Wednesday, August 15):

getting ready to leave the city

 for another week or so with my parents

at their house in long island.

i adore this toy that we have.

look at the incredible calder-esque shapes!

grateful for fun, creative toys.

Day 230 (Thursday, August 16):

ahh...another day at the beach.

so lovely.

and there is b and l in the ocean,

loving the waves and having a blast.

i am so grateful for all of the fun times

that we have had at the beach this summer.

Day 231 (Friday, August 17):

i slept in and b got up with the girls.

when i finally emerged from bed,

they were playing with playdoh on the deck.

oh, how i love playdoh.

there is just something about the texture, the smell, the colors.

check out my nest!

grateful for family fun with playdoh!

Day 232 (Saturday, August 18):

the local library had a little children's art show,

so the girls entered two pieces.

they were so proud and excited - 

it was so cute to see.

grateful for kids, art shows, and ribbons!

Day 233 (Sunday, August 19):

sometimes i get so used to being at my parents' house

that i forget how much beauty surrounds me,

inside and out.

my mother used to collect mercury glass

and it really is beautiful.

i broke a few pieces accidentally as a child,

but now i know better!

grateful for being surrounded by so much unique beauty.

Thursday's Threads 8.23.12

I feel summer slipping through my fingers and it's making me a bit sad.  But then I remember all of the lovely things about fall (school routines, crisp air, leaves, etc.) and my mood begins to turn right around.  Preparing to dress for cooler weather can be fun too...

How do you feel about wearing white after Labor Day?  How ridiculous is it that I even just asked that question?  Wear what you want!  And look at how great white can look in the fall:

On the flip side, there is black.  And I absolutely love black.  No, I'm not a morbid, depressed, dark person (at least I don't think I am!).  I just think that black looks polished and put together and is so easy to accessorize.  See:

Why no flats in any of the above photos?

And aren't their smiles great?  

Now for some cute jeans:

Adorable, right?  But would they look as cute with flats?  Hmm....

I love these tops:

Great layered look, and I especially love the chunky scarf.

Easy top.  Comfy chic indeed!

This outfit is great from the top to the...knees.
What is up with those awful boots?  Maybe it's the angle, but they look terrible.
The white shirt, brown sweater, black scarf, gold bracelet and red nails are fantastic, though!

These show animal print done right:

And of course we need to see some great accessories:

Gold Supergas?!?!  Love, love, love.

Studded Converse - I want you!

Metal toe  - swoon!

Great scarf!  And look at how they go with the bracelets.

The tee and big necklace is a new favorite of mine!

Now, this is a little out of the box for me, but I like it:

I definitely wouldn't wear those boots, but maybe some flat tall black boots?

And finally, have you heard of the Man Repeller?  Well, it is a fantastic and funny fashion blog that I often read, and you have no idea how thrilled I was to read this the other day!  Check her out:

Hooray for sneakers!

This is her - THE Man Repeller, aka Leandra Medine.

Happy Thursday, friends.