We are right smack in the middle of summer here in Phoenix. It is hot AND humid. Not a drop of rain predicted until maybe mid-next week. Based on the weather forecast, the temps may get up to 117. Fortunately we are heading to Chicago for a few days and we couldn’t have picked a better time to escape this inferno. It’s that time again for another Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things.

Fall Styling Workshop

I am teaming up with Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate for a fabulous Fall Styling Workshop. We would LOVE for you to come and spend the day(s) with us on either October 20 or October 21. The workshop will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and includes lunch and some other delicious morsels. All the details are in the Events tab on the top of my website or here. Space is limited so please get your registrations in as soon as possible. We are not sure if we can provide remote access at this time but will let you know if that is a possibility down the road.

Fun Find

Years ago, I used to macrame ALOT. Hard to believe it’s all back in style. I saw these cute storage baskets on another blogger’s website, however, they were out of stock with that manufacturer. So with some internet sleuthing, I found these online for far less money. This 13.5″ macrame storage basket is perfect for plants, or whatever else you want. I like having attractive storage options at a reasonable price under $25.

Garden Update

The remaining spaghetti squash (you can only eat so much) is being enjoyed by the chickens. All the tomatoes disappeared during our trip to Mongolia~not sure what happened. Not much growing in the garden except for the grapes and a few peppers.

If the birds do not eat them, I may try and make grape jelly this year when we return from Chicago.

Foot Update

Over a year ago, I was suffering from Morton’s neuroma in my left foot. I tried healing myself naturally vs. getting a cortisone shot in between my foot bones. At night, I would wear Splay, a set of toe separators or commonly referred to as yoga toes.

I must admit that it is awkward to wear these and it takes some getting used to but I am currently pain free, contributing my success to Splay It took a few months but I no longer use them unless my feet feel tired but would recommend them to anyone who is looking to improve your foot alignment.

Remember to Hydrate

Sometimes we get busy and forget to drink LOTS of water. It also helps to add electrolytes, especially in high heat times. Drinking regular water is fine, but how much more fun is it to drink a naturally flavored water using fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs? Lemons, berries, cucumbers and herbs (cilantro, rosemary, thyme) are some of my favorite flavors.

I try and drink half my body weight in ounces so if you are 120 lbs, then that means 60 ounces of water. Plus it plumps out any wrinkles!

Easy Chicken and Grape Salad

My friend, Rachel from The Pond’s Farmhouse has the easiest recipe for a cool salad on a warm summer evening. Serve it on lettuce or in a freshly baked croissant. Using rotisserie chicken from the supermarket is an easy way to whip this up in no time. See Rachel’s recipe here.

Looking forward to Making this Bedtime Drink

Renae from Peacock Ridge Farm shares an enticing bedtime drink made with lavender, chamomile and vanilla. I am always looking for a warm night time beverage that will help in providing a good night’s sleep and this one sounds like a winner. See Renae’s recipe here.

Mixing Antiques with Modern Touches

I am hooked with the title, “Antique Lover’s Lake House” as I love antiques and anything to do with living by the water. Even though I have never built a new house, I would welcome the opportunity to design one and have it beautifully appointed. This article from Cottages and Bungalows will not disappoint, especially if you love blue and white, vintage collections and Cape-Dutch elements.

Sharing a Bit of the Art Institute of Chicago

Before wrapping up, I thought you’d like to see some of the amazing art on exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition to a large Van Gogh exhibit, here are some classics you will recognize. I always find it amazing that one can get rather close to the actual piece of art. And after so many years, the colors of these paintings are just rich and gorgeous.

Seeing this self portrait of Van Gogh in person for the first time, is really something! The attention to detail and the colors are so perfect. Did you know Van Gogh created 190 paintings in 2 years while he was in Paris? That’s almost 8 paintings per month!

This is an all time classic~American Gothic by Grant Wood featuring a farmer and his daughter.

John Singer Sargent painted The Fountain, Villa Torlonia Frascati, Italy in 1907 of his friends, artists Wilfrid and Jane Emmet de Glehn. Sargent was frequently interrupted by rain and he completed this painting over several days.

Lastly, I will share a Claude Monet, Water Lilies. The Art Institute has so many beautiful Monets on display but I love the colors that only Monet can do.

If you ever get the chance to visit this amazing art museum, please do. There is so much to see and it’s impossible to take it all in at once. I feel so inspired to paint when I get home.

Have a wonderful weekend. Stay cool out there! I hope you are doing something fun and relaxing.

 I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Amazon. But since my blog is all about beauty and kindness, I will just share what I love. I find it amazing that you can order something in the morning and you have by the afternoon or the next day. Shopping online proves to be almost necessary as many retail businesses have unfortunately closed. With gas prices ridiculously high (especially here in Phoenix), and with free shipping, it is an affordable option.

Having said that, we strongly support local businesses and restaurants. Small business is the backbone of our country and for us, we limit our online shopping as much as possible. 

However, it is hard not to take advantage of the great deals and savings during Amazon Prime Days on July 11-12! This two-day event is the perfect opportunity to save on various products, including electronics, fashion, home decor, and gardening items. Have someone heading to college in the fall? Student deals are abundant too. Early Christmas shopping? Now is the time.

What is Prime Day?

Prime Day is a shopping event with deals exclusively for Prime members. Anyone can participate in Prime Day by becoming a member of Amazon Prime. If you’re not yet a Prime member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial and then you can participate in Prime Day. Sign up here for an Amazon Prime free trial or paid Prime membership. 

What is a Prime Member?

Amazon offers a prime member subscription and for a monthly or annual fee, allowing you to get additional benefits through Amazon. 

• FREE Two-Day Shipping on eligible items to addresses in the contiguous US and other shipping benefits. 
• FREE Same-Day Delivery in eligible zip codes. 
• FREE Release-Date Delivery on eligible preorder items delivered on their release date to ZIP codes within the continental US. 
• FREE No-Rush Shipping. Select No-Rush Shipping and earn rewards for future purchases.
• Amazon Day, where you can choose a weekly delivery day for the items you buy throughout the week.

If you watch or stream shows, Amazon Prime Video has unlimited shows that are free or paid. Personally, I don’t operate the television often and my husband is in charge of the controls. But we have enjoyed lots of great shows on Prime.

From groceries to books, you can find it all on Amazon. There is a student discount too.

Shopping Tips for Prime Day

• Read the reviews. I cannot stress this enough. Before you buy anything, be sure to read the reviews to make sure it’s a quality product and exactly what you want.
• It’s a busy time for Amazon. Please be patient as Amazon’s servers can get bogged down during Prime Day. Be persistent. If you’re having trouble adding items to your cart or checking out just keep trying.
• If you own a credit card that offers cash back or rewards, use it. This can help you save even more money on your purchases. Personally I use my American Express so I can turn those purchase dollars into travel points.
• Apparently you can set price alerts. If you’re watching a specific item, you can set a price alert so you’ll be notified if the price drops. This is a great way to ensure you’re getting the best possible price on the items you want. Unfortunately, I haven’t figured out how to do this yet.

What I will be Buying on Prime Days

First, I am taking an inventory of products I use and getting refills if these products are on sale. Here are a few of my favorite things.

Beauty Supplies

I LOVE this moisturizer as it feels like putting pure heaven on my face.

I am finally running low on this product. It is such a great concealer AND sunscreen for that delicate skin under the eye. It’s a bit pricey, but lasts a very long time. Keeping my fingers crossed that it goes on sale tomorrow.

This is the perfect sunscreen and foundation powder for traveling. No need to worry about meeting liquid restrictions on the airlines. Again, this is a product that lasts a long time! I used it frequently during our recent trip.

Oribe is a brand of shampoo that I have used for years. I typically buy it through my hair salon and just found out I can buy it online. Having fine hair, I can testify that this Magnificence Volume shampoo really works. Oribe also has one for Beautiful Color, which I use right after seeing my hair stylist to retain my highlights.

The accompanying conditioner is also very good. A small quantity goes a long way and I only apply it to the ends. You can find it here.

Before blow drying I add both these products to my wet hair to give it even more volume (the plight of having fine hair). This texturizer adds body and has a flexible hold.

Just rub a small amount of both and apply.

Health Care

As you may recall, I am conscientiously trying to improve my bone health through more weight training and supplements. Again, please check with your physician before starting any new vitamin regime. Here are the two that I faithfully have been taking over the last few years with great results.

Strontium provides all natural bone support and increases skeletal strength.

Bone Builder Forte is a calcium mineral supplement.

Clothing

I get so many compliments on this casual boho blouse. It comes in various colors and I own the pink and the blue one. Feminine and affordable too!

Though I haven’t tried this particular brand, I love wearing anti-chafing boy short underwear, especially during the hot summer months. This 4-pack has great reviews and is currently 38% off.

Outdoor Decor

This time of year, I love my faux plants on the blistering hot front porch. No worries about watering them when we are out of town, they are easy, easy, easy.

I bought these two 5 foot faux cedar trees over 3 years ago and they still look fabulous! They are the same price too!

In putting some extra touches to our pool house remodel this year, these two 56″ double ball artificial boxwood topiaries from Silk Tree Warehouse look real. Depending on the height and number of balls, there is a good selection on Amazon here.

Miscellaneous Favorites

On Saturday, I mentioned the Delsey Paris luggage I recently bought. As I am writing this post, the roller bag was 20% this morning (30% off last Saturday) and now, this afternoon it is back to 30% off. Goes to show you that it is important to watch the sales.

I do not think I have seen this coffee maker below $649! It is currently 9% off at $589.99. You have heard me rave about my morning coffee for a few years now. If your coffee maker isn’t providing sublime beverages to you throughout the day, now may be the time to invest in this.

As I was walking around the house in the dark the other night, I was secretly patting myself on the back for purchasing this attractive night lights. You hear stories about people falling down the stairs or tripping over objects at night, but these little guys do a great job illuminating your path, without being obnoxious.

They are dusk to dawn with a warm LED light. Comes in a 4 pack and easily plug into a wall outlet.

Just a reminder that if you do purchase some of these items, I may get a small stipend for sourcing this for you. It will not change or increase your cost. Thank you for clicking on the links to purchase. Consider me your personal shopper!

Enjoy Prime Day and let me know what bargains you get!

Since I didn’t have the time to write a Saturday Meanderings last week, this one will cover all the good things (and some not so good) from the last two weeks. Happy Weekend to you!

It’s Galette Season!

I love making galettes and it’s a great way to showcase all the wonderful fruit that is in season. If you haven’t made one of these, or don’t bake, trust me…..this is E.A.S.Y. and anyone can do it.

What is a Galette?

Galettes are freeform and baked right on a baking sheet. Pies are baked in a sloped pie pan, often with a top crust. With a galette you use the same pie crust dough, but the edges of the galette are folded over the center filling, leaving a wide opening from which the filling can be seen.

This week I made both an apple and cherry one. You can use really any fruit~peaches, apricots or berries. Links to galette recipes are in a 2021 Saturday Meanderings here.

An Expensive Week

We have a well on our property which provides water for the garden and orchard. Unfortunately, the well pump and associated equipment broke and rendered the well inoperable.

Negotiating big equipment to the back of the property is challenging. Also, it is not an ideal time for the well to quit as it is heating up in Phoenix. The cost to fix this is ridiculously expensive, but a necessity, as using city water would be astronomically more.

Last year you may recall we replaced the front deck on our cabin. Even though the work was done by a licensed contractor, the new deck is a big disappointment. Twenty-six (yes!) items wrong with it from not being structural to not being level…it’s a mess.

The only solution is to tear it off and rebuild it (with someone who actually knows what they are doing). My advice~make sure your check references on anyone who does construction work. Just because someone has a license, does not mean they know what they are doing.

It’s been a pricey week.

Wonderful Gift

Earlier this year, my sweet neighbor across the street passed away. In cleaning out her home, her daughter and I became acquainted. Look at the pretty rocking chair that she gave me! I cannot wait to refinish it and feel so honored to get this as it comes with a lot of history. Lucky me.

Annual Yarnell Memorial Run

This is the third year my daughter, Julianna and I participate in this special memorial run. Here is some history about this wonderful event:

On June 28th, 2013, a lightning storm sparked what would become the deadliest wildfire in Arizona history. The Yarnell Hill Fire claimed 127 structures and the lives of 19 brave men as the country watched in helpless shock. These men belonged to the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew, based in Prescott, AZ, where many of them also resided.

On June 7, 2014, the first Yarnell Memorial Run was held in Memory of the Hotshot Crew to raise funds to support the work of local firefighters. The success and support was amazingly vibrant, prompting the Memorial Run to become an annual event. Participants have the privilege of running through the area of town known as Glen Ilah, which is where much of the burn robbed residents of their homes. In 2014, the burned area was still quite noticeable, but as time’s magic healing process has taken effect, flowers have bloomed, grass has returned with vigor and homes have been rebuilt. The Yarnell Memorial Run has grown, giving runners and walkers four different options including a 5k, 10k, 19k and family/child friendly Fun Run & Walk.

Enchanted Forest table

This week we participated in a charitable event, where each table host chooses a theme and decorates their table accordingly. I will be writing an entire post about it because there are so many details, but here’s a peek at my Enchanted Forest table. It was a surprising success!

For the same charitable event, there is also a dessert auction. I made this delicious Apricot Almond Tart (with fresh apricots!) and am very happy it sold immediately! The recipe is in a 2020 post and you can see it here.

Huge Fruit Harvest

This is the week for apricots and picking the last of the peaches. Typically I make pies, jam and salsa, but really didn’t have the time this year. Instead, I sliced and pitted the fruit and froze as much as possible. Now bagged and dated, I am hoping to use them throughout the summer.

A big garden surprise is finding plums on our newly planted tree. The tree didn’t look very healthy and we had already lost its partner earlier in the year. Quite frankly, I expected this tree to die too, so I didn’t pay any attention to it. Low and behold it is full of delicious plums. Since I didn’t thin them, the fruit is on the small size but big in taste.

Did you know that the silvery white film on plums (and grapes, blueberries) is a naturally occurring substance known as the “bloom”? It acts as a barrier against insects and bacteria and helps to seal in the fruit’s moisture. The bloom is also a sign of freshness, since it fades with time and handling. And all this time I thought it might be an insecticide!

A Weird Egg Anomaly

Fart eggs (also called fairy eggs, diminutive eggs, cock eggs, wind eggs, witch eggs, dwarf eggs) are teeny tiny eggs laid by normal-sized hens. They usually are just egg white, just egg yolk, or possibly a teeny tiny miniature egg. It’s like an oops, mistake that happens in the chicken’s reproductive system and this tiny egg comes out instead of a normal sized ones.

Even though they are perfectly safe to eat, I just collect them in a bowl. Eventually the contents dry out and I have these perfectly made tiny eggs. Isn’t Mother Nature full of surprises?

Do You Wear Skorts?

I don’t have great legs so I tend to shy away from skirts above my knee. However, during a recent trip to Costco I did pick up 3 skorts. Not only are they super comfortable, but really affordable too (I think around $15.00) I was pleasantly surprised and am wearing them with a simple t-shirt. Plus at my age, no one is looking at my legs!

You can find them online (different style than what is offered in the store) here.

Well, that’s a wrap to Saturday Meanderings. Wishing you a glorious weekend and If you are celebrating Father’s Day, please cherish the father (or father figure) in your life. The next few weeks will involve some traveling for me so I hope to continue to blog, but if not, I will catch up with you as soon as I can.

Be well and stay safe out there!

Happy last Saturday of May! Wait, what? That’s right another month just shushing by..unbelievable. Thank you for joining me on this Memorial Day Saturday Meanderings weekend to chat about all good things this week. I hope this post finds you happy, healthy and full of vim and vigor. What is vim, by the way? It mean high energy and great enthusiasm. Who knew?

A First Time for Everything

While up at our cabin in the mountains, our friends, Mitch and Tevia invite us to go ATV-ing. Honestly, I have never done this before! The day’s weather just happened to be perfect~blue skies and puffy white clouds. There are multiple trails through the forest and we travel to places I have not seen before

One stop is at the Springer Mountain Fire Lookout Tower at the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. We climb to the top of the 40 foot tower and meet Janie Croxen Ringleberg, a US Forest Service employee who has been watching for fires for 31 years. Her 11′ x 11′ space is filled with maps, radios, binoculars and photographs.

Janie shares her history with us and explains how she is able to assess and know the attributes of fire origins. She works in this tower full time Monday-Friday all by herself. Truly amazing.

Cabin Projects

Remember last year when the brand new roof we purchased for the cabin had a massive water leak in our entry?

To make matters worse, the ceiling is wood and the leak caused severe staining. In an attempt to just replace a few of the panels, we hired someone to replace and try to stain match the non-damaged ceiling. The side walls need new plaster work and the entire project has taken forever.

This week is the first time I have seen the repair work. Unfortunately, the replacement ceiling panels are stained a completely different color from the rest of the ceiling. The question is should we just replace the entire ceiling, or try to stain the balance of the ceiling to match the new wood?

Unwilling to have this torn up yet again, I volunteer to try and see if I can try and blend the two ceiling colors to a point where it is more acceptable.

What was I thinking?!? Here is a picture where I stain a few of the existing boards to match the new, darker color of the replacement panels. It takes me a few days of grueling overhead work with a watery stain, but I am finally a bit happier with the results.

Finally, after several months, the front entry is back together and hopefully the repaired roof will not leak again. I’m not sure my arms and shoulders will ever be the same!

Bargains of the Week

Check out this pretty blue and white melamine tray I find at Big Lots. Priced at $12.99, it is also on sale (at the register) for $9.74. You can find it here on the Big Lots website. They also have really cute matching plates and bowls, very affordable and on sale too.

Sundance Catalog is having a great sale in their Outlet shop..up to 40%. Occasionally I will browse their website and find a really good buy.

This cute eyelet embroidered blouse was $128.00, marked down to $39.99 and now on sale for $23.99.

Scalloped, eyelet hem with gathered cuffs and tasseled tie give this tiered, peasant-style dress a touch of timeless romance. $148.00 down to $29.99 and then on sale again for $17.99!

I just ordered these two items so I will let you know if I like them. Not sure how long the sale will last, but you may want to check it out here. I don’t get any kind of commission if you buy something~just enjoy sharing a good sale when I find one.

Need Your Design Feedback

As we open up the cabin for summer use, we are uncovering outdoor furniture, sweeping the decks and fixing all things broken. On our back deck, we have two entertaining venues in the same space~ one for sitting and one for dining.

Here is the back deck area:

The seating side’s color scheme is mostly red, neutral rug with some navy accents. The primitive pine dining table has grey/white French bistro chairs. Since we have a leftover outdoor rug I place it under the table.

I do like how the table, rug and chairs is visually cohesive.

However, I am not sure I am fond of the entire space. It feels disjointed to me to have a red/blue/neutral palette next to this gray/gold/white one.

What do you think? It’s hard to tell by the photos but I would appreciate your design feedback. Should I live with it? Change out the red cushions to another color? Paint the metal furniture an anodized bronze? Find different pillows? Help!

Garden Harvesting

As the weather gets warmer, my garden will soon go fallow for the summer. But right now, I am picking Black Krim tomatoes (which are so delicious) and Japanese eggplant. The San Marzano tomatoes are still green and hoping for a plentiful batch for sauce.

Artichokes are flowering. We had such an abundant crop this year, I am leaving the last few on the plant to bloom. Will cut them and dry them for a future wreath?

Just yesterday, I picked 4 very large sweet figs from our tree.

The heat has caused all the lettuces to bolt, but the chickens are enjoying them as afternoon snacks. I still have tomatillos, peppers, and kale producing.

Summer Reading List

I am getting ready to compile a new summer reading list so if anyone has great book recommendations please let me know. My friend, Cindy, is reading In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson and seems to like it. The only other Erik Larsen book I read (and really enjoyed) is Devil in the White City back in 2004. My summer reading tends to be light and joyful, without any heavy or demanding topics. Please share your favorites.

I know Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, as most schools are finally finished with classes. But let’s not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day. Wishing you a weekend of loving moments with family and friends as we give thanks, gratitude and honor to the military members who died while serving in the U.S. Forces.

This week, conversations about arms keeps coming up over and over again~with various friends and where I work out. With warmer weather approaching and less clothing, many of us aren’t particularly happy with the appearance of our arms. Called aunty arms, bingo wings, flabby dabbies, and bat wings it’s the loose skin around our tricep area. It may be more pronounced on people carrying a few more pounds, but many thin women have it too.

I have a very strong memory of elementary school, when our stern principal would scold us, and as first graders were transfixed and stared at her bingo wings flapping madly. Of course I don’t recall what she was reprimanding us about, but I clearly remember those arms.

What can you do to reduce flabby arms? There is always exercise and diet, as building muscle can help tone that area. Here’s a good article from Good Housekeeping with at home exercises under 20 minutes to help bust those bingo wings.

There is also the option of plastic surgery to remove excess skin if you are inclined to do so. But the reality of aging is that we lose elasticity in our skin as collagen and muscle tone diminish. This post isn’t meant to be judgmental about the condition of our arms, but since the topic came up a few times this week, here are some good resources for 10 attractive tops to minimize flabby arms.

Chico’s

How pretty is the delicate feel of this Crochet Poncho. This intricate design features intricate crochet patterns throughout and comes in both black and white. Paired with a tank top it is a very feminine way to disguise any arm issues. It is 100% cotton and machine washable. See it here.

Macy’s

My friend, Chloe (from Celebrate and Decorate) LOVES these tops. Chloe has lost over 50 lbs. and is working hard to strengthen her new body. Look how cute she is in the picture below!

These Ralph Lauren tops can be found at Macy’s. They come in a variety of colors and patterns at an affordable price. Chloe states that the sleeves are so comfortable too! You can find them here.

Amazon

I have featured this blouse before and I still love it!

Here is how it looks on me:

I personally own this blouse (in 2 colors) and I get so many compliments when I wear it. Super-affordable at $22.93, the sleeves are breezy and full. Find it here.

Kimono

There are so many pretty kimono styles available. This is a great solution to wearing a sleeveless tank and yet adding a bit of color while covering your arms. I get lots of compliments when I wear simple white pants, a white tank, fun jewelry and this kimono. However, this exact one is no longer available on Amazon.

But check out this very cute on on Chico’s and it’s on sale for $59.99 (marked down from $139.00). The crisp blue and white is perfect for summer! This kimono makes the outfit, doesn’t it? Click here to purchase.

Soft Surroundings

Some of my favorite long skirts I have purchased are from Soft Surroundings. This top is very cute, has pockets and is long enough to cover your backside. Comes in orange too. Find this Briza striped tunic here.

I have never owned (or worn) a caftan. But during our hot summer days, something like this looks so comfortable, yet stylish. The sleeves are a great length too so check out this Aisha dress here.

J. Crew

This eyelet top comes in 3 colors: white, a bright red and a pretty blue. 93% cotton and 7% polyester it comes in a wide variety of sizes. It is currently 41% off too! You can find it here.

Ann Taylor

Classic styles from Ann Taylor are always a good go-to. With a button down front and a Mandarin collar, this linen shirt just looks so comfy. It comes in white and a pretty cafe au lait and is machine washable. See it here.

A shawl or lightweight wrap for the summer is another good way to ward off an evening chill and cover those arms.

I have a similar shawl in gold (more of a poncho), but here is a pretty, elegant one from Ann Taylor. It’s priced at $94.50 and here is the link.

Talbots

My summer is filled wearing t-shirts and Talbots has this scooped neck style one in 12 colors. I love the sleeve length and it’s made with ultra soft pima cotton. Affordably priced at $44.50 and make sure you take advantage of their daily specials. See it here.

I hope you enjoy some of the summer fashion suggestions that will minimize any arm issues you may have. Personally I love them all and want to start shopping! If you have any other suggestions for either getting arms into shape or minimizing them, please share!

Happy Thursday!

P.S. On some (but not all) of these products, I do have affiliate links and may receive a small stipend if you purchase an item through my website. However, it does not increase your cost, but rewards me for doing the research and making these suggestions.