Produce and Fashion - of course!

summer produce - fall colors

fab transitional pieces

                 

I love this time of year. We are still in the midst of summer and enjoying the fact that school zones are not enforced and that long weekends still make lots of sense because, well, it's summer. Fewer people at work on a reg basis. Trees full of leaves, flowers in bloom. Yadda Yadda Yadda. But a piece of me starts to consider that a change in season is coming. That soon the light will change, the evenings will cool off, and our food & fashion will transition. We will use richer colors we can layer on top of summer dresses to transition, and in a few weeks we will all be within a new season - autumn.

Ben shot the tomatoes and mushrooms at a market while wandering around in San Francisco a few weeks ago. Aren't they beautiful? They represent summer but the colors are oh-so fall and to me the fashion illustrates the market pics so perfectly. The fabulous dress, tie-dye shirt, and scarves are from a favorite online shop called Beklina

I hope it makes you think of all the fun with fashion and. . . eh. . . produce. . . we will be having come fall. 

Remember your Roots

We love our families and the roots upon which we were raised and still stand. Our pasts, how we were raised, and the pasts of those who came before us inform so much of who we are and more importantly who we want to be. . . as a reminder of this, and more, and because we miss home so much sometimes, we decided to make "art" of old stationary we have from both of our towns - mine from Baird TX (where my family has been for over 100 years as teachers, merchants, and civil servants) and Ben's from Weatherford OK (where his parents & grandparents on both sides have been integral parts of the community for 3 generations). We have taken the mastheads from the stationary and are blowing it up to hang on the wall - see the Baird piece that is completed at top - still working on how to mount it. . . and the stationary we are using for Weatherford, and specifically from Ben's grandfather's drugstore. It is still in production. Will update you on the final installation. . . will take finding just the perfect spot eventually to show off why we believe in roots and reach.

Inspired by: Journey of Action

Smmidge supports people doing what they do in hopes that we can be exposed to and inspired by others who are living more deliberately and more meaningfully - whether you create things that just make yourself and others happy, or if you are involved in a movement that may effect thousands - we want to know (and tell) the story and get the word out. Ryan and Kassidy Brown of Journey of Action are inspiring me with their ambitious project - see this kick-off webisode and be sure and follow them as they embark on their journey of action.

My Summer Reading List

I'm enjoying and have enjoyed some wonderful books this summer. Ben and I make it a point to keep a book going between us - one that we read together - and this summer that is Einstein by Water Isaacson. On my own I have thoroughly enjoyed escaping to Jackson Mississippi in the 1950s in The Help; diving into the Elizabeth Gilbert's life once again (I loved Eat Pray Love and am anticipating a fabulous movie coming out next month) in Committed; and currently I'm two-timing some fabulous male authors in Jonathon Tropper and Anthony Bourdain. I can't stop talking about their books, that is when I'm not inhaling each page. Finally, I'm saving my dive into the phenomenon that is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I hear wonderful things and am excited to start but am saving for August in hopes I'll have finished either This is Where I Leave You or Medium Raw - I want to really give it all my attention and can't wait. Happy Summer!

Pole Posters in Portland OR

I guess I'm anticipating a weekend trip to Chicago starting Friday because this week has really been focused on favorite destinations. I'll be out at a sponsorship event for my company, but am looking forward to the trip and to Chi town in the summer. I hope you enjoy the gorgeous posters we found on a magical trip to Portland last year. Aren't they amazing? The colors, the typography, the band names. . . LOVE that town too, and have more fave spots to share from that trip. . .