Staying at a Frank Lloyd Wright House in Riverside, Illinois

Usually I do research when I travel.  Usually I know where I am going and what I want to see.  But this trip was different.  I was going on a roadtrip with Kim, my best friend from high school to stay with our friend Aberdeen.  Our plan was to eat out, watch a movie and catch up.  No advance planning necessary. If I had used my head, I would have read up on Frank Lloyd Wright.

I knew that Aberdeen lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright house, which sounded really neat, but I had no idea how fascinating it would be to go inside and actually live there.  To respect her privacy, I won't identify the house.  It isn't open to tours and it is up to her to share it as she wishes.

I will simply show you the window I got to look out each morning.  A row of these beautiful "light screens" lined the room and were placed almost at the height you would hang a piece of art. The effect is stunning.  Another plus is that the windows hinge open and on Sunday morning, hymns from a church service waft into the bedroom.  

I have been to many famous residences-turned-museums over the years (Monticello, Mount Vernon, Olana) and in all of them, it is the possessions (paintings, furniture, china, wallpaper) that made the impression on me. I enjoyed thinking of the lives of these famous men and how they lived at the height of their careers.

In this case, I was in a museum of sorts and had the chance to admire the work of a famous architect from within his creation.  Can you relate to what I am saying?  I have not thought about architecture that much and was fascinated with the idea of being inside something that a design icon created.  

You look at Monet's water lilies.  You look at Andy Warhol's Polaroids. You are never inside a piece of art.  That is until I was walking around inside a famous home by Frank Lloyd Wright.  I was able to see the flow of the rooms, the width of the staircase, the natural light from the windows, as well as the illuminated skylights with exactly the effect that Frank Lloyd Wright had wanted.  

Some of the furniture was original too, designed by the architect to work in the space. I loved it all.  It felt silly to gush about it all after the initial look around. I wanted to pretend it was no big deal to eat pizza in a grand dining room or sit outside and talk on a porch with a cantilevered roof.  I can't gush to Frank, so I'm gushing to you. 

Thank you, Aberdeen, for letting me look at architecture and art in a completely different way. 

Rummage Sale Score and Follow Me on Facebook

Hi! This is not really today's post.  I'll be writing about Frank Lloyd Wright later I promise.  This is just a reminder to follow me on Facebook so I can keep you in the loop as the holidays approach.  

I'll show you when hard-to-find items are on the shelf.  What I'm baking or planning in the kitchen and occasionally I'll show you my rare finds that will have you running to the next rummage sale or flea market.

This week's score featured on Facebook was a never-used French silicone baking pan for $2 at my church's rummage sale.  I will use it to make personal Bourbon Orange loaves for holiday entertaining.  You can bake them when you have time and defrost when it's time to party.  Recipe coming soon...

Ernest Hemingway and Lunch at Hemmingway's Bistro in Oak Park, Illinois

When Kim and I were in Oak Park, Illinois visiting our friend Aberdeen, we found ourselves surrounded by Hemingway.  First, Aberdeen took us to Hemmingway's Bistro for a French-inspired lunch.  Everything on the menu sounded delicious and my Crepes Gratinée filled with ham and Gruyére was as rich and delicious as it looks.  This bistro is the perfect place to sit and catch up with your friends over a long lunch.  Naturally, since we were eating at Hemmingway's Bistro (an extra "m" was added avoid any copyright issues), Ernest Hemingway himself came up in conversation. Kim said that Hemingway "the man-the myth-the legend" turns up everywhere she goes on vacation!

When she was in Spain, she felt that every place she visited, Hemingway had been there first.  In honor of unwittingly visiting his birth place (and the "Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park"), we climbed the steps of this grand museum...and headed straight for the gift shop. Kim wanted a souvenir.  

The woman running the shop told us a funny story about a customer asking if they carried "3XL" size t-shirts. When she found one in stock and handed over the giant shirt to her, she commented that she must have a very big man in her life.  "Oh no, she said, it's going to be a nightshirt for me.  I've always wanted to sleep with Hemingway."

So here we were in Oak Park, Illinois, three friends laughing and paling around like we were in high school all over again.  Priceless.

Have a Gourd: Easy Fall Arrangements

You don't necessarily need a grand plan to have a successful fall arrangement on your front porch or in the middle of your kitchen table.  A grouping of like objects (in this case, pumpkins and gourds) is visually interesting and can satisfy your eye all on their own.

I use the photo above as an example, which was photographed by me at the Country Living Fair on Columbus, Ohio.  A jumble of pumpkins, gourds and squash looks perfect just as it is.  Yes, they spaced the light green and deep orange gourds evenly throughout the pile, but it still looks natural.

If the display looked like they were placed by type or color, or if a sprig of maple leaves were tucked in every open space, the arrangement would look contrived...as if the pumpkins weren't pretty enough just as they are.  I show you this to instill confidence that you can put together your own fall display without a lot of angst.  

On the other hand, you can plan to buy only one color of squash and gourds and make a big impact that way as well.  These gourds and squash in varying shades of gray-green are gorgeous and do all of the design work for you.  Set them together and they speak volumes.  

I thought you might like to refer to this Pumpkin and Squash Identification Chart so that you can drop the name of the unusual pumpkin everyone is admiring.  I happen to have a "Great White" on my front table this year.  Love it!

If you are in Southeastern Michigan, Maple View Farm is open on Saturdays and has a beautiful variety of designer pumpkins.

Beekman Boys Heirloom Dessert Cookbook

If you are new to my blog, "Welcome!" I have been blogging 5 days a week for 6 years about the beauty of everyday life. I write about how visual images, tasty treats and simple storytelling can enhance the human experience. 

The impact of flowers; the joy of friendship; the satisfaction of 

collecting – these ideas are the foundation of my first book, "Moments of Delight" and my blog.  Explore the sidebar to see posts by month and my City Series.

This is to catch you up on my recent Beekman adventures. Remember my visit to Sharon Springs and their Beekman 1802 mercantile? And my tour of the farm? It was a wonderful trip and I am so happy that we had a chance to visit again so soon.

As for this last weekend with The Beekman Boys...I've been recruited!  I will be participating in the "Bake Like A Beekman" blog where we will bake our way through the new Beekman 1802 Heirloom cookbook.  Doesn't that sound wonderful?  I'm a baker at heart and I have the apron collection to prove it.

Dan and I drove to Lansing on Sunday to and support Josh and Brent on their cookbook tour.  I finally have a copy of their long-anticipated desserts cookbook and I got to spend some quality time with my friends. I was so happy that Tracy was able to make it to the book signing from Grand Rapids. If only Kerry could have come up from Tennessee! Next time! The four of us haven't been in the same place in 20 years. 

The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Desserts cookbook is just beautiful - perfect to display on the cookbook stand in your kitchen. I can't wait to make the Roasted Caramel Pears and the Lemon Lavender Squares.  Yum! The bonus of this great day was that I was able to meet some of Josh and Brent's other friends and realize how much we all have in common.  Like baking...

Make an Heirloom While Preserving the Vintage Photograph

Every once in a while I make a little piece of art - this is a fabric pillow displaying a photograph of my maternal grandmother as a child.  Love the hair bow!  

The best part about this project is that I can scan the original image and then print it on a special printer fabric sheet (8.5 x 11) by June Tailor.  This creates something "new" for me to work with and leaves the vintage photo completely unharmed.

For this project, I machine stitch the photograph to a piece of coordinating calico fabric, then place another piece of fabric (the same size) against it. The two "right sides" of the pillow face each other.  Machine stitch along all four sides, leaving a 2-inch space to allow for stuffing.  Turn the pillow right side out.  Lightly press the fabric and photo to smooth out any wrinkles that happened from turning the fabric.  Stuff the pillow.  Hand stitch the 2 inch gap closed.  Hand sew a short cord onto the top (or trap it into the seam as you stitch the 4 sides closed), to hang the pillow.  Use Fabri-Tac to glue a decorative trim along the photo to create a frame. 

I have this hanging in my dining room on my china cabinet.  I love this sentimental touch in an unexpected place.

Friends are the Foundation

Friends are the foundation.  Or should I say, Friends try some Foundation. 

Last weekend, Kim and I went on our first ever road trip to see or dear high school friend Aberdeen in the Chicago suburbs.  The 3 of us were inseparable 30 years ago and thought it was high time that we put family/jobs/kids on hold for 3 days and take the time to really catch up...in person.

While I will show you some of the restaurants, shops and museums we visited in Riverside, Illinois in my next few posts, today is all about the foundation of friendship, which is talking-sharing-spending time together. And putting on make up.

Miracle Blur to be exact. Not that we really need it (ahem), but I tried this really neat new face primer by L'Oreal that subtly makes your skin look better. 

It somehow blurs skin imperfections and gives a look that is natural but a little...hazy?  When I told Kim about it we laughed, agreed that everyone could use a little blurring and I announced that I would bring it on our weekend so that we could all try it.  The consensus - we all need it! We each did half of an area on our face (one cheek, half our nose etc) to show contrast again the freshly washed skin.  We all agreed that the area with Miracle Blur looked better, but still completely natural.  How did they do that?  We were amazed...and relieved.

While experimenting, I looked down and loved how interesting the table looked.  I took this photo (above) and it has captured the best memory I have from our trip.  The time when we sat outside on Aberdeen's patio, drank herbal tea and put on make up.  It felt like no time had passed and we were 16 all over again.

We didn't need music or museum tours to be happy; we just needed time to relax and reconnect.  The fact that we were made up into our best blurry selves by the end was a bonus. 

Beekman Boys coming to Michigan in October

*Schuler's Books and Music 2820 Towne Center Blvd Lansing, Michigan (517)316-7495

Seated Tickets with purchase for first 100, standing room available without purchase...

A heads up for all of my Michiganders, the Fabulous Beekman Boys, Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell are on their book tour promoting Beekman 1802 Heirloom Dessert cookbook and will be at Schuler's Books & Music in Lansing, Michigan on Sunday, October 6 at 2pm.  Road Trip!

If you can't make it, stop back and read all about the event here.  But I hope you can come...be sure to find me and say hi!

Flower Arranging: Vintage Canister is an Unexpected Vase

In the spring, summer, fall, I am flower driven. My interests collide when I can take a vintage oatmeal canister (my mom's find from an antique show) and fill it with flowers from the garden.  Could this arrangement be any prettier?

A melange of color and texture that gets your attention and holds it for a few beats.  When I see this arrangement, my brain ping-pongs around these thoughts:

• How can the colors of that hydrangea be so delicate? Pale celery green and puff pink together is perfect. 
• Why don't they make more pretty china canisters - clear plastic Oxo containers are just not beautiful.
• This grouping would translate beautifully to fabric. Where is Laura Ashley when I need her?
• I have to plant bellflower and more yarrow next year (then I write that in the Notes portion under May in my 2014 calendar.)

Looking at beautiful things is good for you.  Making a bouquet and seeing it every time you walk into the family room is even better.

The Power of Cute: A Cherry Tale

Finding Delight is about celebrating the beauty of everyday life.  This pie is an example of how one simple touch can take something very basic (baked pie crust) and turn it into something worth talking about.

Making a pie is easier than you think, especially when you have a perfect pie crust "on hand" in the refrigerator.  Thank you, Pillsbury. The single thing that elevates this pie is the fact that I carved cherries (because it's a cherry pie) into the store-bought dough. A design that took me less than 1 minute to create.

The design shows the power of cute.  When you go to a little bit of trouble, it can make all the difference.  

"A Cherry Tale" Pie

2 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts (1 box has 2 crusts)
4 cups washed and pitted tart cherries
3/4 cup white sugar
3 Tablespoons quick tapioca
1 tsp lemon juice
1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Open the box of pie crusts, remove one crust from the plastic wrap and unroll it onto a greased glass pie plate.  Using the tines of a fork, gently make dots in the crust every few inches - this will allow the steam to vent as the crust bakes. Bake crust according to directions on box.

Mix cherries, sugar, tapioca and lemon juice in a large bowl.  Allow to sit 15-20 minutes.  Stir well and pour into baked crust.  Open the second package of dough and unroll the dough onto the top of the pie.  Pinch dough strips to edge of pie shell to seal the strip.  Using a sharp knife, carefully cut a design into the crust - I chose to make a design of cherries with leaves.

Brush crust lattice and rim with a beaten egg. Sprinkle entire top of pie with a little white sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.  Serve warm or at room temperature with creamy vanilla ice cream.  Enjoy!

A Moment in the Spotlight

I came around the corner and noticed my orchid having a moment in the spotlight. Mother Nature had the sun shining through the window just so, and my little vignette in the dining room looked especially tranquil and pretty.

Although there are things that I would change if I were actively using this tray (like filling the Revere bowl with something - nuts in a shell with a silver pick? and adding ice to my antique ice bucket along with a bottle of wine and some glasses?), I love how this looks just as it is.

Do you have pretty vignettes set up in your home right now? Which could use a spotlight?

Sun is Shining and the Bees Are Buzzing

I was happy to find this sunflower, set against a natural backdrop of sea foam green and blooming within my reach.  I'm only 5'2" and I have many photos at an angle looking up at the flowers face, like a child trying to aim up and take pictures of the bride at a wedding.  I rarely find a sunflower that I can photograph "head on."

I was even more pleased when I uploaded the photo to my computer and noticed the bees all over the sunflower face!  

I have been bothered by the cover of recent Time magazine called "The Plight of the Honeybees."  The article (I read ever word) enumerates the many possible causes for the rise in colony deaths since in 2006.  Seeing bees out and about made me feel better and I found this helpful article about bees pollinating sunflowers online.

While this photo was taken in northern Michigan at a small farm, I have many varieties of flowers and herbs on my own property in the suburbs, because giving bees a variety of pollination options helps.  The more home gardens, the better.

Golden Fig's Enhanced Sugar

Every time I reach into my cupboard and pull out one of my beloved Golden Fig enhanced sugars, I ask myself the same two questions:  

• Why don't more companies make sugar blends like these? 
• Why haven't more stores/people discovered Golden Fig, the maker of said sugars?

I initially found Golden Fig when I bought their "Cranberry Spices" mix in a cooking store while on vacation in Minnesota.  I can't find this heavenly blend on their website, but when I call, they usually have it and can mail me a few jars.  The "Cranberry Spices" is a blend of maple powder (see it sounds good already, right?), ground ginger, orange peel powder, thyme (totally the secret ingredient - it adds incredible depth), ground nutmeg, anise and cloves.  The company intends for you to use this spice blend to make a cranberry sauce, which is delicious to be sure.  I want you to sprinkle this heavenly mixture over roasted acorn squash, roasted butternut squash, pureed squash - you get the idea.  It makes all of the harvest vegetables sing.  I joke that I'd sprinkle it in the bathtub if I could - it smells that wonderful.

Anyhoo, because I was such a fan of the "Cranberry Spices," I decided to try some of their enhanced sugars.  I love them all.  They are a culinary indulgence; certainly not necessary for day-to-day living, but very fun to sprinkle with abandon when the mood strikes.

• Making buttered toast? Shake on some "Cinnamon Orange" sugar.
• Shortbread hot out of the oven? Sprinkle it with "Lemon Rosebud" and listen to the girls ooh and ahh
• Non-fat Greek yogurt with berries for breakfast? Douse it with pink "Hibiscus" sugar 
• Baking Christmas rolls?  They will be even better made with "Cardamom Sugar"
• Fruit Salad need a little something? Sprinkle it with "Lavender Ginger" sugar

Honestly, you can't go wrong.  I love my collection of special sugars from the Golden Fig. I reach for them all the time and feel like I am a sweet genius.

2013 ArtPrize Winner in Grand Rapids, Michigan

I was so happy when I found out that my trip to Grand Rapids (for my friend Tracy's son's bar mitzvah) coincided with #ArtPrize.  Have you heard about it?

Here is a succinct description from the ArtPrize website: 

"ArtPrize® is a radically open, independently organized international art competition with an unprecedented $200,000 top prize decided entirely by public vote.

For 19 days, three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, become an open playing field where anyone can find a voice in the conversation about what is art and why it matters. Art from around the world pops up in every inch of downtown, and it’s all free and open to the public."

What a fabulous idea! I downloaded the ArtPrize app to my iPhone and was able to vote for pieces I loved while I was in town (you must physically be in GR to vote which ensures tourism for the city and quells cyber-landslides from those who haven't really viewed the artwork).  

There were entries on display in the lobby of my hotel, the JW Marriott.  In the photo below, I framed a booth in the lobby against the visual interest in the background. In the distance you can see the yellow, red and orange banner art installation called "Hydro Anthem" on the Blue Bridge.

I loved staying at the JW because it was right on the Grand River; it was within walking distance of so many of the ArtPrize attractions and the staff was incredibly helpful.  I'm definitely coming back.

I had free time on Saturday afternoon and my two sorority sisters from Kappa Alpha Theta at Michigan State came and picked me up for lunch and a whirlwind art tour.  We had lunch at The Woman's City Club and had a quick "casual buffet for ArtPrize" lunch and then walked around the building viewing the art on display.  During lunch, we heard a darling young singer/songwriter, Elle Pohlman perform with her guitar.  Her music is her art and she proudly recited her ArtPrize entry number in between songs.

I liked seed bead artist, Colleen O'Rourke's cartoon-like girl in a piece called "New Couch."  

Her mother, E. Lynne O'Rourke had a torn art collage hanging in the same room called "Fresh from the Garden."

My favorite part of this piece is the Bigelow tea tag hanging on the string out of the cup. 

This art installment is called "Silk Waves in the Grand" by Al and Laurie Roberts.

I am showing you all of these to spotlight the various types of art on display. I feel very fortunate that I was able to visit Grand Rapids during ArtPrize - it is my kind of event! Good luck to all of the artists! 

*While I was exploring the ArtPrize website, I came upon this page about Kumi Yamashita, of one of last year's winner.  At first, it looks like colorful pieces of tissue paper in orderly rows and columns.  When you look closer, you see that each tissue square has been manipulated/bent so that it casts a shadow that is a human face!  I am in awe. 

***October 5, 2013
The winner of ArtPrize 2013 has been announced! Congratulations to Ann Loveless of Frankfort, Michigan for her landscape art quilt titled, "Sleeping Bear Dune Lakeshore."  It's beautiful! Congratulations, Ann. 

Ariel View: Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes

Birds Eye View, indeed!  I realized on my return flight that I shouldn't have my pocket camera on during take-off.  I didn't realize that anything with a battery had to be turned completely off.  Well this was before I knew better and was a Delta flight from Traverse City to Minneapolis.

Look at the view!  This can only be part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  I'm sure you remember me writing about this famous national park when it won "America's Most Beautiful Place" in a Good Morning America contest. The beautiful white areas on the shoreline are giant sand dunes (some over 400 feet high) that jut down straight into Lake Michigan.

I love the view from the top of the dunes (above), but seeing it from the air is spectacular too! I just had to show you. 

Glossy Sauteed Peaches with Frozen Yogurt

Peaches make life better. I am getting way more than my recommended daily allowance of fruit during peach season, and I feel great. Yesterday, instead of having some fresh peach with my Greek yogurt for breakfast, I saved it to be the star of dessert. 

I cooked my peach by "poaching" it, I placed the 2 halves, cut side down in a large saute pan in a mixture made of equal parts sugar and water (1/3 cup each?), a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and an inch of vanilla bean (only if you have it, no need to add vanilla otherwise).  I put the burner on medium and let the fruit cook about 10 minutes - be sure to watch it so that it doesn't burn.The peach I had was still quite firm.  The good news is that all of that hardness disappears when you cook them.  When the peach has cooked, pull out the piece of vanilla bean stem and discard.  

There will be a magic moment when the peaches have caramelized/deepened in color and the remaining liquid will be reduced to a glossy peach-infused syrup.  I serve my peach half with a small scoop of my favorite "ice cream." Edy's Slow Churned Yogurt Blends in Vanilla.  It is creamy, contains live active cultures and counts as a good source of calcium.  

You must try this while fresh peaches are still available.  Promise me...

Lipstick Sunset

The night was coming on so dark and heavy - Fall was in the air; the days were shorter and definitely cooler. This particular life day had been gray, then everything changed at sunset and the deep teal of Lake Michigan was offset by iridescent pinks, lavender, apricot and yellow. 

It was a lipstick sunset.

Do you know the song?  I have a lovely memory of working with a woman one summer who was still receiving mixed tapes by an old flame.  They lived in different parts of the country, but every once in awhile a cassette tape full of music would arrive in her mailbox.  Their lives had moved on, but he still thought of her.  

She shared her favorite tape with me, I dubbed a copy (remember tape-to-tape?) and listened to the patchwork of songs all summer.  "Lipstick Sunset" by John Hiatt was one of my favorites.

Unusual Vases, Sequined Hawaiian Juice Cans

Sparkling juice can vases.  A perfectly normal thing to add to my Etsy store, right?  I absolutely love them and it is time that I shared.

Lately my art has been exploring the intersection in life where flowers, packaging and color meet. I have been giving friends and colleagues pop cans full of flowers for years. 

When I lived in Hawaii for a month, I was thrilled to find specialty juice cans more beautiful than any I had seen on the mainland. I mailed a huge box of empty cans back to Michigan (I know, try explaining that to my husband) and have enhanced them with unusual colors of sequins. 

You can see them all at  my Etsy (online marketplace for artists) store here. I know that they are a little crazy...but crazy beautiful, right?

 

 

 

 

You've Got Mail: Wooden Botanical Postcards

I wanted to write a special thank you note to a friend, so I went to my stationary basket and pulled out these gorgeous wooden postcards.  That's right.  Wooden postcards.  Have you ever seen any? They are handmade from two pieces of 1/200th (.005) thick Birch veneer.  They are smooth and light and have a wonderful feel to them.  They are the standard postcard size and I believe that they can be mailed with a postcard stamp - I'll find out for sure this afternoon!

Aren't they beautiful?  They each feature a different botanical stamp of an illustration by artist Dana Harter.  I tried to find an online link for you to order some for yourself (I bought mine in a gift shop in northern Michigan) but the only information I could find is: Dana Harter P.O. Box 266 White Pine, MI 49971

I write on these wooden postcards with a fine tip permanent ink Sharpie so that my heartfelt message will last as long as the wood will! 

Royal Park Hotel: Tea For Two

This year my friend, Kathleen announced that we should celebrate my birthday by going out for High Tea.  What a fun idea! As you know, I love all things tea and it is Kathleen with whom I occasionally throw a tea party.  Remember this pretty table we set?  And this one?  

It has been so fun to have a kindred spirit to share my love of tea and tea time treats with. Kathleen bakes incredible scones that she serves with homemade whipped cream.  Kathleen has been to Scotland and drank restorative cups of tea with her relatives after touring the countryside.  Kathleen knows what I mean when I talk about different kinds of flour or how to judge which baking sheet to use or the process of making lemon curd. She gets the nuances of baking and entertaining that I think are so much fun.

I mention all of this because I don't believe that there are two people in Michigan more qualified to take tea and appreciate it.  Kathleen and I absolutely loved the "Royalty Tea" at The Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan.  The table was set beautifully with fine linens, pretty rose-covered china pattern, a 3-tier serving tray loaded with handmade specialties and flutes of champagne!

Our first task was to consider the tea selection each tea and choose two for the table.  We uncorked each glass vial and had fun saying what we could detect - teas that were "very floral", "coconut-y", "had chocolate notes", "faint apricot." Kathleen chose a caffeinated tea with coconut essence and I went with my standby, English Breakfast - to me, it's the perfect tea.

Kathleen and I decided to eat our way through the selections together, so that we could make comments. These scones were delicious! We dabbed them with clotted cream and lemon and they were the perfect.  Look at the crunchy sugar on top - love it!

You won't believe the menu for the "Royalty Tea".  Two hot hors d'oeuvres, scones, tea sandwiches, desserts and shortbread.  Yes the presentation was gorgeous, but everything tasted even better than it looked! When do you say that?

Our table on the window let us have our tea party in the comfort of air conditioning, but with the bright light of a table on the patio.  In contrast to the dark and cozy formal teas that I've been to elsewhere, this high tea was light and happy. 

Our waitress was kind and made us feel welcome to stay and enjoy as long as we wanted.  I think that is one genius aspect to how tea is served at The Royal Park. Tea reservations are made between 2-4 pm; you won't be hurried through the experience because there isn't another party waiting to be seated after you. Kathleen and I were there over 2 hours and it was perfect.  We talked and ate and laughed and ate and drank tea.  Repeat.

You can see what a lovely experience this was.  I was relaxed and happy. Kathleen was too and I could tell that she was enjoying my birthday as much as I was!

Then this was brought out to me!  Can you stand it?  I truly am spoiled.  It was a personal hot fudge sundae with "Happy Birthday" spelled out in dark chocolate.  Love love love!  Kathleen had waved her magic wand and had the hotel make my day even more special.  What a friend!

The next time you are looking for the perfect place to go for a girl's lunch, look no further than The Royal Park hotel.  They put everything they have into giving you a delightful experience. And thank you, Kathleen, you are a genius.

Perfect Purse Management

I was at the hairdresser one day and the ladies were all talking about how difficult it is to change purses all the time.  They said that they often stuck with one purse, not because they wanted to, but because that was how they would know they had what they needed with them.

I chimed in that I had a staging area for my purses in my bathroom linen closet and they said...what?  One of the girls asked me to blog about it so that they could see what I mean.  Voila! 

I told them that it started when I began my cigar box purse business.  I am known for the interesting fabric linings that I put in the cigar boxes and I was always opening my purse to show it off.   

When you are always opening your purse, you want the contents to be pretty. That's when I started collecting pretty pens, colorful notepads (to take orders/contact info), little tins of mints, and clear box wallets (I wish I could still sell these, but I can't find them anymore!).

Anyhoo, all of this led me to create a staging area where I stop, with the purse I am carrying that day, and load it with something from each compartment. My wallet and iPhone start the process.

From the back left in the photo above, I have:

• cute tissues
• Band-aids
• coin purses/powder compacts/mirrors
• hair bands/bobby pins
• hand sanitizer wipes
• a pen/calculator, key chains, little flashlights
• Vitamin C lozenges
• notepads
• mints
• allergy medicine, ear plugs, tums
• gum
• business cards
• a clear jar of lipsticks/glosses
• a jar of pens (just outside the photo)

We all have these items in our house and we all need them to make it through the day, why not put it all in one place?  I can't tell you how easy it has made my life.  And it is just part of one shelf in my bathroom linen closet.  The shelf above holds my cigar box purses and Delight totes.  Easy-peasy.

Do you think you'd like to have a staging area for your purses?