Summer time

Summer time, oh how I love you! The farmers market on Capitol Square, lounging under a big oak tree, eating delicious food and soaking up sunshine.

Molle by the sea

Every once in a while we have the pleasure of stumbling across an interior that is *gasp* perfect. In every way. Well, according to us! I was looking through Skona Hem's site and found Molle by the Sea. Move me right in. I won't change a thing, I promise. I'll just bring my favorite mug, a box of chai and my journal.

How was your weekend? I was stuck in a coffee shop doing algebra homework for at least 12 hours of my weekend. So, that was a bit stinky. Hopefully yours was merrier!

Images found here

Summer blogging schedule

So faint, so soft, so magical. I love these images, they allow you to imagine the details of the story.

It looks like Mondays and Wednesdays are going to be the busiest days of the week for me. Class from 8-2 and then 5-7:30. That leaves me with just enough time to grab the bus, do my homework (or not, as we found out yesterday), and eat something completely un-nutritional for lunch/dinner. Chippies count for a meal, right? With all that being said, I think I'll be a twice a week blogger this summer. Which makes me kind of sad, but I promise to stay in touch with you and keep up with your beautiful blogs! Anyone else taking a summer blogging schedule?

Images found here

Friday Favorites

1. Perfect Pear by kristinenoel
2. Shimmer and bloom from eclu
3. Jill - simple bridal earring from LostAndFawned
4. She always wore the best shoes by janethillstudio

It's stormy here, the sky the color of slate. The perfect kind of day to drink coffee and read novels. The kind of day that sets no agenda, just as long as you cross off a few things from your list. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday, however you spend it!

Love to you,
Jewels

Flown by

This week has flown by, we're almost to Friday! My second week of classes is almost done and I feel a bit giddy/terrified about all the homework that I need to fit into this weekends activities. Regardless of the reading to do I'm determined to make it to the Farmers Market, meet up with friends for a cold beer at the Terrace and generally enjoy the delights of having a roommate for the weekend!

This picture makes me think of Giada (from the Food Network) and Anne from Anne of Avonlee, making her way to the dunes to finish writing her first novel. What does it make you think of?

Image found here via Naturally Nina

Quote

“I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it.”

~Rosalie de Castro

Images from here and here

Sweet and sparkly

Because life is full, sweet, and sparkly--you just have to know where to look. I'm finding Sundays to be one of the hardest days of the week. Not because I'm dreading the start of the school/work week, but rather, it's the day I have to say good bye to Andrew after a weekend together. And that's tough. Each Sunday has its little good bye. And so, I look, avidly, for the sweet and sparkly of my Monday morning. Chai tea, the coolness of this summers morning, the thrill of posting new books in my shop, and these delicious photos, for you!

What's the sweet and sparkly in your world this morning?

Images here and here

Friday Favorites

one: green orchids by dkdesignshawaii
two: yellow and white pleated bag from daphnenen
three: caribbean fabric scarf from beautifulbridget
four: pastel bird illustrations by euphorianchic

I found out yesterday that I can't make grilled cheese. I know, I'm a culinary flop. I pulled out the bread, the cheese, the butter. Put the pan on the stove and set it on medium heat. Covered one slice of bread with butter, slid a slice of Provelone on top of that, stuck it on the pan, put a lid over that, and... promptly forgot about it in a flurry of Etsying (kids, don't do this at home). Well, I hurried out to the kitchen the moment I smelled smoke. But, I wasn't fast enough. I had every smoke detector in the apartment going off (there are three, by the way). The bread was a piece of char with molted orange goo oozing off it. The lid was almost cemented to the pan. Not good, not good. I will be living off of yogurt, cheese and lettuce till Andrew comes home.

Love Yourself

Thought we could use the reminder!

XOXO,
Jewels

Images from here and here

Treats

Happy Tuesday! Quick update: Algebra did not eat me alive, thank goodness. I'm off to madly clean our apartment as I have company coming in a matter of hours and my living room floor is still covered in paper scrapes and a variety of sharp objects.

Images found here

La Crosse

The weekend passed in a blur! I can hardly believe it's Monday. La Crosse was a complete delight, not only was I able to spend some quality time with Andrew, but we were able to explore and discover heaps in La Crosse while doing so. Did you know that they have a coffee shop called "Jules Coffee?" Yeah, very cool! We were able to check out a few other local establishments like Buzzard Billy's (where my eyes watered after eating some of Andrew's spicey crawfish soup), Huck Finn's and the Borega Pub (they have a chocolate beer I've got to try sometime--11% alcohol). All were great places to sit, sip, and relish. I can't wait to go back!

On a side note, today is the first day of class--I get to begin the slippery task of grappling with the concepts of Algebra for the first time in half a decade. We'll see. I promise stories if it looks like Algebra is winning.

Images found here

Friday Favorites

1. Anticipation from thecheshiresmile
2. Peacock feather by LuckyBluebirdArt
3. Alicia by eraseandrepeat
4. Peep toes from halfCaf

I get to see Andrew today! Can you see me doing my little happy dance? It looks rather spastic, like a child on too much sugar. And we get to explore more of La Crosse. Andrew's scouted out a few coffee shops and used book stores for us to visit. What's on your weekend agenda?

By the way, I'm so glad I'm not alone in my messiness *grins* And Cindy, thank you so much for all the hugs! I've needed them!

Messy

Generally understood fact: men are messy.

False.

Julias are messy.

Images found here

Quiet Post

Quiet post today! Enjoy!

Images found here

Simple Pleasures

I've always been enchanted with the idea of collecting simple pleasures (think Amelie). Instead of the typical vices you cultivate delight in the simple things. Here's my budding list:

1. Taking off my sandals and feeling the cool freshness of summer grass
2. Writing with a dip pen--I like the sound of the scratch on paper, so satisfying
3. Making a small batch of chocolate chip cookies because I get to eat the dough

What's on your list this morning?

Images found here and here, thank you flickr

Courage

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Presently I'm sipping hot chai tea, listening to the birds twitter about their morning. School starts next Monday so I'm trying to plan out my week with two objectives: get caught up and try and enjoy the sunshine. Sometimes both can seem impossible.

I wanted to let you know about the Country Living Women's Entrepreneur Event, held down at Navy Pier this past Saturday! I had been looking forward to this event for months now and it did not disappoint. The panelists were informed, encouraging and a pure delight. The 2009 Women Entrpreneurs were a hoot *grins* in so many different ways. This is a distilled version of what I walked away with:

1. Research your customers
2. Hone your niche (especially in a down economy)
3. Don't give up, even in the face of great odds

Now, what this sage advice and all this inspiration means to me and my little Red Otter business, I'm not sure. But, I will tell you, I met some of the neatest women at this event--a little band of truly charming bloggers too--and the knowledge that I'm not alone, that someone out there "gets" me, that's the joy I will carry in my pocket as I go forth, where ever that may be.

PS. I took Andrew to La Crosse this weekend--the summer of his ten week internship has begun. If you think of me, send a smile or two because I'm going to miss him! Heaps!

Images from Country Living and .naa.'s flickr