domesticity

Where has the summer gone? I’ve been keeping myself busy with projects at home and at the office, while enjoying the wonderfully warm weather.

One recent home project was reorganizing our master walk-in closet... pulling items to donate to charity, color-coding all my clothes on new matching ultra-slim flocked hangers (no more camisoles sliding off hangers onto the closet floor!), and conquering the clutter. Rather than add more clothes and accessories, I wanted to finish off the project with something fun to look at while I choose my outfit for the day. I ended up picking these simple fashion sketches depicting New York, Rome, London, and Paris, to inspire me.

Will post more of my summer projects soon... What have you been up to this summer?

Where did the month of June go? The days have just flown by and July is already here!

After a few stressful weeks completing some special projects at the office, I am currently on holiday visting my sister’s family in Colorado. My parents have also flown in from Hawaii... so it’s like a mini family reunion here.

I wish I could always be on vacation somewhere in the world!

Added two new books to my Japanese Craft Books library... the first is ナチュラルテイストの通園小物 (isbn978-4-8347-6465-9) and the second is フェルトで作るかわいいおもちゃ (isbn4-8347-5590-8).

ナチュラルテイストの通園小物 provides instructions on sewing bento box pouches, tote bags, aprons, and other items out of natural fabrics.

フェルトで作るかわいいおもちゃ is filled with toys to make using felt, including bento boxes with musubi, shrimp tempura, and fried chicken; a play-doctor set; and construction tractors and dump trucks.

I can’t wait to spend some time crafting these items!

My week in review...

Buying...

Velvetspun yarn in Carnation to knit back-up bunnies for my niece. I knitted her a bunny blanket buddy when she was born and she carries it everywhere with her. I’m knitting two extra bunnies for her just in case something happens to the original.

Eating...

Blue crab cakes with grilled asparagus and lemon-caper spaghettini from California Pizza Kitchen.

Reading...

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Lee. Reading this book is making me crave Chinese food!

Watching...

Greek on ABC Family. This show has the best one-liners and references to pop culture.

After running errands, we stopped by Wendy’s on the way home for a little treat... a Frosty Shake. I had seen the commercials on television and the shakes looked so creamy and refreshing. I tried the Strawberry version made with real strawberry sauce, while my husband tried the Vanilla Bean flavor. Yum... the perfect summer indulgence!

Tucked into the pages of this week's issue of Newsweek was this clever promotional piece for Häagen-Dazs. The sheet is filled with bee-friendly wildflower seeds to plant and provide food to feed the honey bees and keep them buzzing.

There is also a beautifully-designed website at helpthehoneybees.com to learn more about the plight of the honey bees... you can even design and send your own animated honey bee. Isn’t mine cute?

I also want to try the new Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream made from vanilla from Madagascar and honey from the clover fields of North and South Dakota. Anything to help save the honey bees and keep them pollinating!

I really love the simplicity of these porcelain Roost tropical leaf bowls. The bowls come in both small and medium sizes with either a white or black matte glaze.

My week in review...

Buying...

Cases of Caffeine-Free Diet Coke in a feeble attempt to cut down on my daily caffeine intake. Image courtesy of Diet Coke.

Eating...

Deluxe burger and fries from Dick’s Drive-In.

Reading...

Sunday at Tiffany’s by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet.

Watching...

This season’s final epsiodes of Lost.

Finally got a chance to stop by Trophy Cupcakes and Party this weekend and sampled the lemon, chocolate vanilla, and triple chocolate cupcakes. Not only are these freshly baked treats delicious, but they are also beautifully presented. I need to try and remember to stop by on a Tuesday or Thursday because I really want to try a Peanut Butter & Jelly cupcake! Yum!

Happy Memorial Day! Spent today running errands... woke up early and headed over to Ikea for their tax-free Memorial Day sale. We got there right after the store opened and the aisles were already packed with people! Luckily, we knew exactly what we wanted... a new bookcase for my new craft studio area... my summer project. While we were there, we also picked up other goodies, including storage baskets for the bookshelf and a spöka nightlight for late night kitchen raids in green (we already have one for the bedroom in blue). After Ikea, we stopped by Salty’s for chowder and fries. Yum! This long weekend has been so relaxing that I am definitely not in a rush to go back to the office tomorrow.