Things I Love Thursday // 3.31.22

Custom Converse

Seems like everyone has a cool pair of high-tops this year and I didn't want to be left out. I love the look with joggers, dresses, and jeans. Decided to go with a classic: Converse. I designed the perfect pair for me (off white with a neutral accent) and I'm so happy with how they turned out. This platform style runs true to size.

Orzo & White Bean Soup

Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup is another hit from Half Baked Harvest that my family absolutely loves. I make this every few weeks on Meatless Monday and the girls are able to take leftovers to school in their lunches (keep a little extra broth on hand to help with the consistency of next-day servings). 

Amazon Slides

These "house slippers" are amazing. And yes, I wear them outside of the house too. They are squishy and durable --I'm a big fan. Geneva calls them my Ojīchan sandals (which means "grandpa" in Japanese). I call them fun.

Free Little Art Gallery

I'm sure you've heard of a Little Free Library --but have you ever come across a Free Little Art Gallery?? My city is so cool! The basic concept is just like the little libraries: the Free Little Art Gallery movement invites passers-by to pause for an accessible and unexpected art encounter. Take a piece, leave a piece, or both! They're gaining popularity. Here's a Washington Post article about where the idea started and what's behind it.

Allergy Medication

Wow. This season has been off the charts. I'm grateful for modern medicine.

Coupon Gifts

One of my all-time favorite gifts (holiday, birthday, Mother's Day) is a COUPON from my kids. Most recently, I cashed-in a coupon for "Dinner" and Piper planned, executed, and (mostly) cleaned up a delicious meal of pork chops, jasmine rice, and green beans. Delightful!

Sweet Peas

If you've been hanging around here for long, you're sure to know that I love some simple stems in a vase. I've blogged about grocery store blooms, my appreciation for Trader Joe's flowers, and even cuttings from the yard. I'm so tickled with the way these sweet peas fan out from one of my favorite vases (a lovely gift from a great friend).

Oscar Party

I'm not going to comment on the drama (pun intended) --but I would love to share some details of the lovely party I attended Sunday evening (in my PAJAMAS). The hostesses went all out with the Oscar theme and the guests went all out with their contributions of appetizers, sips, and sweets. We met new people and visited with good friends, played games, made predictions, and laughed a lot. It was fantastic!

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Things I Love Thursday // 11.11.21

Our US Military

Today on Veteran's Day and everyday, I am grateful for the service and sacrifice of those who have served and are currently serving our country in the armed forces. A special shoutout to these stud-muffins, from left to right: my grandpa Dale Gowin (WWII, Tank Commander - Normandy), my grandpa Robert Purse (WWII, Radio Reconnaissance - France & Belgium), and my dad Clyde Purse (Military Police K9 Unit - Korea).

Gertie & Elliott

We went to an amazingly fun 80s Halloween party this year! All the appetizers and food were from the 80s as well: spinach dip in a bread bowl (revolutionary!), loaded potato skins, Stoeffer's french bread pizza, sloppy joes... Gertie, Elliott, and E.T. left very stuffed and aching with all the belly laughs!

Frasier Fir Season

As soon as Halloween is over, Frasier Fir season begins. My friend Megan (Happy Anniversary, Megan and Thomas!) introduced me to this scent by Thymes and I'm forever ruined for any other holiday/winter scent. While it is definitely pine-tree-scented --FF is so much more than that (think: clean, crisp, layered, and perfect). I'll be burning these until Valentines Day! If you're at all interested in trying it or this is your reminder that it's time to restock --don't delay. These sell out every December!

LEMONS

My little meyers lemon tree is actually ripening! I'm over the moon. Now, if I can just harvest these cuties and transfer this baby to the screened porch before our first frost --I'll really be celebrating. Please send all your best wishes that this lovely is able to survive our winter on the screened porch. Where are my gardening friends? Do you think a little sheet over the top will do?

Lasagna Soup

The first time I had lasagna soup was in my friend Gretchen's dining room over ten years ago. It was a sensation that evening, and continues to delight my family today. The best thing about the soup is how easily it can be varied to suit your preferences (add veggies, serve without noodles, use beef or Italian sausage, kick up the spice, skip the cheese, DOUBLE the cheese...). Here is a fairly simple recipe you can use as a jumping off point. I like to double the protein and prepare my noodles separately. You do you.

Revlon's Hot Air Brush

Fascinated by some of the extremely pricey options of these blow-drying brush/wands, I read and watched lots of reviews before deciding to try this super-affordable Revlon version. This tool boasts a 4.6/5 stars on Amazon with almost 240K reviews. I bought it several weeks ago and wanted to test it out before deciding if I would recommend. And here it is. I love it! It even works beautifully on Piper's hair and she has a TON. (At the time of publishing this post, the price has been reduced from the $60 I spent to $35.) Tips: 1. Let your hair dry naturally until about 70-75% dry and then piece out small sections to wrap and smooth with this brush; 2. If you don't have a lot of time to let your hair dry naturally, use your traditional dryer to quickly rid most of the moisture from your roots before switching to this brush; 3. Pump up the volume between washes by using this on your dry hair at the crown; 4. Instead of winding the length of your hair around the brush, just lift from the root and roll over once as you drag the brush to the end.

The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit

We finally made it out to see the immersive Van Gogh show hosted by Blumenthal Arts. In Charlotte, the show is being held out at Camp North End --a very cool venue in its own right. Once inside the actual "performance," the 30+ minute movie runs on a loop with images shifting, alighting, and dancing across multiple screens and surfaces accompanied by music. It is a bit of a pricey ticket at about $50/adult and $30/kids up to 16YO but we were all captivated and felt it was worth the price of admission. The exhibit has been extended in Charlotte to run through January 2nd --so consider a family outing over the holidays.

Mossy-Green Floral Maxi Skirt

Loving this pocketed floral skirt with boots and sweater or t-shirt and sneakers. I wasn't sure about the fabric and it was hard to tell in the link what it would look like in-person. However, the reviews were numerous and positive so I thought I'd give it a try. Very happy that I did! I love the pleating and the elastic waist. It comes in several prints and colors. I'm tempted by the tiny polkadots in both coffee and pink!

Charcuterie-Building Class

It was a great night with friends learning some hot tips for putting together a beautiful charcuterie plate with one of the city's best: Queen Brie. I was over-served at the event (it happens) but did manage to recall a few key points: use both hard and soft cheeses; never stack your meats (instead, fold them for volume and texture); always think about adding color to your plate with the use of dried and/or fresh fruit, mustards and/or chutney, and edible flowers; fresh herbs like sage and rosemary add aroma and interest... and lots of other cool hot-takes that I missed or forgot due to the being over-served situation. If you're in the Charlotte area, you can sign up for her next workshops at this link.

(before we began --when my memory was still excellent)

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Things I Love Thursday // 10.14.21

Celebrating Lulu

My mother-in-law, Linda (who we call "Lulu"), moved to Charlotte from California in March. We are so lucky to have her near after all these years on separate coasts. Her new place is less than a mile from our house and visits are often. She comes to soccer and volleyball games to watch the girls, takes care of them when we are out of town, invites us over for brunch, happy hour, and dinner... it's just really lovely to be able to take her out to celebrate her birthday. Cheers to another fabulous trip around the sun!

Pocketed Long Skirts

I just bought two new skirts from Amazon. They are light-weight, elastic banded, and a great length. I love the (faux) tie at the waist and the large pocket details. I've already worn them a few times and they are easy to pair with a t-shirt, a french-tucked button down, or a light sweater. I bought one in black and one in sunflower yellow. (They definitely needed to be steamed when they arrived.) You will also need to wear a slip with them, as the fabric is a thin blend with a light linen texture. I have no idea how well they will wash but I have no intentions of putting them through the dryer! I though the slight difference in hem (from front to back) might be a little weird --but it's not at all. My rear end manages to make a nice shelf that balances everything out. LOL The thing that's weird is the name of the company! What the heck??

Travel Steamer

To get my skirts looking great in just a few minutes, I busted out my new travel steamer. This little iSteam is awesome! We own a big Jiffy J-2000 (worth every penny) that we've had for a decade; however, our current house has no laundry room and the washer and dryer are two floors away from the bedrooms. Our big steamer is supposed to live in the guest bedroom closet but every time I pull it out to use it, it ends up living in my master bathroom (right in front of the door) or on the second-floor landing outside all of our bedrooms for literally MONTHS (possibly 8-9 in a row). So I decided that, because we could use a travel steamer anyway, this smaller one could serve double duty: travel and small jobs. In other good news, it fits nicely on the shelf in our under-sized master closet! I can't believe I waited 8+ years to buy one this size. (p.s. I don't know why there are towels in this ad. Please don't be a person who steams your bath towels. If you have that much free time, pick up a good book.) 

{image via}

Clog Sandals

To go with my new steamed skirts, I bought some cute clog sandals. I have a difficult time with the traditional mule style, as my arches are too high. I saw this peep-toed pair of Swedish-made Mia "Greta" Mules last weekend when I was out shopping with Staci and fell in love. Unfortunately, the boutique did not have my size --which was probably for the best because I didn't really need another pair of heeled, neutral, peep-toed sandals. But THEN... Ben chewed one of my favorite shoes that very night! I took it as a sign from the universe and set about trying to find the boutique shoe online (at the time, I didn't know what brand they were). It wasn't too hard to find the exact pair --but it was really tricky to locate my size in the color I wanted --sold out everywhere. And then I checked Amazon. Yahoo! While poking around there, I saw THESE Sandgrens in a soft gray "stone" color. #willpower

sandals, shirt, pants, sunnies

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

There is something so intimate and enjoyable about listening to an author read their memoir --unless it's Matthew McConaughey reading Greenlights, which I just could not get into. (But perhaps that's a story I'll save for the day I start cataloguing Things I Hate Monday.) Anyhoo... this wonderful book, Crying in H Mart, was published in April of this year and has received a fair share of attention. Zauner, singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast, is a Korean-American who grew up in rural Oregon. She writes of grief, family, food, and identity with unflinching honesty that is somehow both brutal and tender. I loved it!

{image via}

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Things I Love Thursday // 4.15.21

BIG BEN, this Target Dress and Hat, and Fran's Lemon Jelly Sandals

Would you just look at this guy? He's growing like a weed. He's 12 weeks and almost 35 pounds. We are all smitten. He is having some health issues --so it seems like we might have some longterm (simple) care to throw into the mix... I will keep you posted. We've just done some preliminary tests so far. In less-stressful news, how cute is this outfit? HA! I love a dress that you can throw on the makes you look like you put way more effort into it than you actually did. That is this dress. I wish I could tell you the dress was still available; however, I bought it in the fall when I under-packed for a few weeks on the west coast and it is no longer online. But this one is similar and from the same brand, as is this one. The simple knit hat is easy to pair with nearly anything and you can't beat the price. I love having a hat for when the weather in wet. No matter the effort I put into styling my hair I can count on lots of frizz and tons of not-so-good volume even if the air is barely damp. I borrowed these adorable sandals from my friend, Fran, (as we were heading to a soggy outdoor gathering and every wedge I own has a very porous heel). I'm thinking I might have to pick up a pair of my own --they were incredibly comfortable and super cute! Necklace and bracelet stack are favorites too!

Planting the Garden

We put the garden in over Spring Break. It's been just under 2 weeks, it's already coming along so nicely! Last year we harvested tons of tomatoes, radishes, squash, and banana peppers. We had less success with the pole beans, carrots, strawberries, and kale. This year, we skipped the carrots and kale, planted a couple different onions, went for peas instead of beans, and are trying our hand at cantaloupe. I'll keep you posted!

Progress shot!

Planning

A Visit from Simone and Coco

One of my besties and her sweet tween, Charlotte (aka, Coco), came out from California to spend some of their spring break with us and to explore the Carolinas. We were so happy to have them --though it wasn't for nearly enough time! We dined, played, relaxed, sipped, and shopped. Simone also had this lovely plant potted into a perfectly-matched-to-my-kitchen-island pot when we visited the PlantHouse (formerly known as PlantBar).

Riverbend Retreat

Later, during our break, we had the pleasure of spending a couple days with our friends at their mountain retreat in Todd, NC. Their home is located on the New River and we passed our time playing games, kayaking, taking walks, watching our puppy torment their older and less-enthusiastic older dogs, hot tubbing, and snacking. We intended to stay a bit longer but as I just mentioned, we brought our new puppy along so it ended up being more work than we had in mind.

Minari

This movie is a beautiful look at what defines family and what makes a home. We laughed out loud throughout and during the in-between times, fell in love with each of the characters as they worked through their individual struggles. It's a quiet movie so if you're looking for big action and weighty drama this one might not be for you. 

Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk with Sweet Potatoes and Rice

An oldie but a goodie. This flavorful dish from Half Baked Harvest is one I will continue to come back to. It manages to be both hearty and bright. The Instant Pot method results in fork-tender chicken and sweet potatoes that are swimming in coconut milk seasoned with fresh cilantro, spices, shallots, and lime juice. Over rice and with a toasted piece of naan --this dinner is a winner! 

Cupcake Surprise

I saw an amazing post on Instagram from a favorite follow: @Flourdeliz. In celebration of the quickly-approaching Derby, Liz had created a Bourbon Peach Sweet Tea cupcake. I mean, come on! I shared the post in my story and invited anyone to bake me a few. To my ultimate delight, the doorbell rang yesterday evening and our amazingly thoughtful friends were standing on the porch with a tray full of these cupcakes! I'm not even kidding. I was thunderstruck --and then I was very full (because I had to have TWO). Thank you, Sara, for your kindness. I mentioned at the top of this post that Ben has been having some health issues and yesterday was a doozy of a day. Sara could not have known just how much I needed a little sunshine in my day --and boy did she deliver!

Normally, the blooming azaleas would also make my "love list"; however, now that the sticky blossoms adhere to Ben's feet and bumbum like sap, they are struggling to make my list.

This OUTFIT

Basically, all of it. :) I bought these ankle-length, "90s Cheeky jeans" from Everlane (my first pair from there) and they exceeded my expectations. What I love: the waist is high enough to be current but not so high that I look and feel like an idiot; the pockets are set on the higher side which creates a more flattering look, the waist fits AND the hips fit too (hard to accomplish). The tank is as comfortable as they come --but the cut makes it feel a little more "elevated" than it really is. I bought the one pictured here at a tiny boutique in Bend, Oregon a couple summers ago but this one is similar. This "oatmeal" cardigan (named by me for the texture and color --though, it does come in a dozen other colors too) is perfect for the in-between season we're in (mine is a medium). These plastic sandals from Old Navy are cute and ridiculously easy to wear all day long (even with my high arches). Even the sunglasses are an inexpensive favorite --and they have a coupon code available at the moment!

What is she looking at? What is making her smile? No one really knows.
(Foreheads in image are smaller than they appear.)

Easter Festivities 

You may have noticed that I skipped posting last week. Spring break plans, the Easter holiday, guests from out of town, and Ben seemed to fill up all of my days and I found I just didn't have enough time set aside. I did want to note how nice it was to spend the gorgeous Easter holiday with Greg's mom (who has recently relocated from California to Charlotte and now lives about a mile from us). After a delicious brunch to a newer restaurant in town, The Artisan's Palate (oh my gosh, GO! if you're in town), "Grandma Lulu" spoiled us with outdoor games, prizes, and a delicious ham dinner. We are beyond grateful to have her so close --especially knowing the girls will be heading off before we know it! Also, Ben was super handsome in his borrowed bunny ears, don't you agree?

"Bok bok"

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Things I Love Thursday // 10.29.20

Things I Love Thursday: A weekly roundup of the simple things that are bringing me joy and that I want to share with you.

A surprise gift: Amazon Infinity Scarf

It was easy for my friend, Amy, to get me to join her "chain letter style" gift exchange on Facebook --not just because I'm a sucker but mainly because I've done this kind of thing before and it's delightful. If you don't know what I'm talking about, let me know and I'll take the time to explain in the comments. Long story short, this chunky, soft, oatmeal scarf arrived at my house today out of the blue from a stranger playing the game and I love it. Seriously. I've been wearing it all day and I haven't even left the house (I only stepped outside to take this rare selfie so I could show it to you). I looked it up by the packaging so I could share it with you and it comes in tons of colors and two different knit patterns. So affordable (and in my case: free). Love. (p.s. If you're looking for some inexpensive sunglasses that hide the fact that you've not "put on your eyebrows" yet, these ones couldn't be better!)

Comfy Season

Chilly temperatures, soups, snuggling... and also when my kids bust out one of the best gifts they received last year: their oversized, ridiculous, amazing, sherpa-lined "poncho thingies" (literally called The Comfy). Here's a picture of my kid wearing one behind our 23 pound ragdoll cat, Richard Parker. The Comfy is so generous that you can see a lot of it despite the size of the cat. Ha! Hooded and with a kangaroo pocket, these babies show up around here all fall/winter long. Thank you to the Bills Family for introducing us! Pictured below, a pile of teens getting comfy in their Comfys (winter 2019).

Lion-Cut Season

Wait. You didn't know? It's a thing. Every winter Richard Parker grows a thick undercoat. This happens despite the fact that he rarely steps outside his temperate home --and when he does venture out a door that's been left open, he typically runs back into the house shortly thereafter due to his being spooked by exceedingly dangerous things that live outside, like wind, and grass, or the occasional leaf. In any event, he produces excess fur, doesn't tolerate a good brushing, and ends up fairly matted. The mats can quickly get out of hand. Thankfully, we've found the solution: Seasonal Lion-Cuts from his stylist groomer. (And yes, he still weighs 23 pounds without the fur. He's chonky.) 

Richard Parker with a mat on his hip.

Sometimes it's hard to choose a "best" angle when all your angles are best.

Understated Holiday Decor

Don't get me wrong, I love OVERstated holiday decor as well --but the understated kind I can squeeze into the house before Thanksgiving by calling it "Winter" themed. See what I did there? I found these little goodies this week in the Target Dollar Spot at our Charlotte Midtown location. I fell hard for the pom pom trees that really are as soft as they look ($1/each). The wooden house silhouettes seemed the perfect compliment on our newly-painted mantle so those came home with me too ($5/set of 4). I wish you luck in finding some at a Target near you, as they are unavailable to link online. :(

Quality Tahini

The best ingredients make the best results. Thanks to my pal, Jill, I've fallen in love with Soom tahini. Are you not even using tahini yet?? Get. On. The. Bus. This is a staple ingredient in a lot of my favorite recipes and serves as the base for some favorite dressings and dips. Soom is nutty and rich, velvet smooth, shelf stable, and recommended by everyone who cooks (just kidding --but certainly by a lot of people who know more than me). Try it in these tasty recipes: Milk Street's Israeli Hummus, Plated's Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs, Half Baked Harvest's Kale Caesar Salad (or just make the dressing and dip everything into it). 

Rubbish Pet Portraits

I couldn't help but giggle when read this feel good story out of the UK. Phil, a father from West Sussex who draws under the fake alias "acclaimed artist Hercule Van Wolfwinkle," (to date he has) raised the equivalent of $26K for Turning Tides Homelessness by giving away his poorly drawn pet portraits in exchange for donations to the charity. This is just one of his masterpieces. Visit the link to read the story and enjoy all of the amazing examples of his work (along with the funny fake reviews of the portraits that he writes as well). Good stuff! If you want a drawing for yourself, you'll have to get in line behind thousands at his facebook page.

The softest (and flattering!) caftan nightgown

I've blogged about this piece before. I bought it last year and it has held up great! It's the perfect thing to grab in the morning if I'm heading downstairs for some quiet time with my coffee and my cat. Pictured below is the version from 2019 that I own and love. Unfortunately, this navy with cobalt is no longer an option; however, it comes in a few other combos for 2020 (navy with grey details and grey with black details are my faves). It's washable, the v-neck makes it feel "sexy" even though you're basically wearing a sleep sack for grownups, the length is chic, and the way the fabric comes together at the sleeves and down the sides gives it a "put together" look that belies it's outstanding comfort. If you're wondering about sizing: I'm 5'6" and I bought this at 135 pounds. Thanks to quarantine, that's not my current weight --but the caftan still fits beautifully. Mine is a small. ;)

Charlotte Nonprofit Spotlight: Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary

On the most excellent idea from my friend, Anne, I've decided to highlight a local nonprofit in each of my TILT posts moving forward. If there's one thing I love it's giving back to our community, our public schools, and the arts in Charlotte. One of the very first "neighborhood adventures" we had was discovering Wing Haven. You can read about our 2013 visit in this blog post --though, I'm sure a lot has changed since then! (The picture below is my now almost 14 year old studying her Bird Watching Chart.) Wing Haven is currently looking for Children Education Facilitators to assist with check-in, read stories, help with crafts, or lead programs. For more information on how you can volunteer for this flexible opportunity (or simply donate), click here to the Share Charlotte webpage for details. You can also support Wing Haven by shopping their holiday greenery sale!

This post may contain affiliate links and I may make a HUGE commission (j/k it's literally pennies) when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You should know (and I'm legally required to tell you) that as an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Feel free to make me RICH. lol ;)

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