Sketches and Shelves

First Cookout of the Season!

Perfect Sunday

Yesterday was such a beautiful day! I enjoyed a small laid back Easter dinner outside with my parents and Brian. Unfortunately my sister and brother were unable to join us, but I was certainly thinking about them. Looking forward to this week and setting up my new studio, yay! I will keep you posted (no pun intended) on my progress.






Everything I'm wearing is either from a thrift store or yard sale, love that!

Fidget Finds Found A New Home!!

New Spring Dresses in the Etsy Shop!

Starting the Morning Off Right

I love smoothies, they are such a delightful, tasty, and refreshing beverage to drink in the morning and super hydrating after the gym. I used to make them with orange juice, organic yogurt, and frozen fruit but after adopting a few tips from my mom I know how to pack in the good-for-you punch. This is how I make them and obviously you can substitute whatever you don't like for whatever you do. Mix it up so you don't get tired of the same thing over and over.

Fruit: a handful or two of frozen mixed berries and if there's a banana lying around I'll throw that in too. Fresh is good as well, just be sure to add some ice cubes to make the smoothie cold enough. Trader Joe's has frozen mixed tropical fruit, like papaya, mango, and pineapple, that can add some great flavor.

Liquid: fill the blender to the top of the fruit with whatever juice you'd like. I usually use orange juice and pomegranate/blueberry. When your fridge is scarce on beverages, just use what you've got. In the past I've used iced tea, apple juice, V-8, and yes, wine. Red is actually good for some added antioxidants. Just don't tell your boss that you're drinking wine smoothies (as I've dubbed them, I've had more than one.)

Good for you Supplements: a squirt of lemon flax seed oil, some powdered chia seed, and some psyllium fiber for good measure.

The Kicker: fresh kale! This potent leafy green has a ton of nutritional value; antioxidants, beta carotene, vitamin C, and even calcium. Just rip up a few handfuls of leaves and let the blender do the rest. You won't taste it at all and all you'll see are green specks dotting your smoothie. It's cheap too, a big bunch costs less than a dollar.

Blend all the ingredients together adding more liquid if necessary and you've got yourself an outstandingly healthy and delicious treat.

Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags

For those of you who have not yet watched HBO's "Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags", now is the time. I stumbled upon this documentary about the garment industry in New York City and was both amazed by the district's vitality and heartbroken by its steep decline. In 1965, 95% of American garments were made in the USA but by 2009 that number has dropped to 5%. Five percent!! This is a very important film not only about fashion and the garment industry but also how outsourcing everything to other countries has a huge effect on jobs, and life, in the US. Definitely worth watching and thinking about. Watch it now on HBO On Demand.

Sunday

Sunnies: previously mentioned vintage Ray Ban's
Necklace: vintage
Top: knit wrap top from Marshall's
Tank: Target
Skirt: altered vintage
Shoes: Aldo
Location: Colt State Park, Bristol, Rhode Island

I Think It Might Be Spring!

Sunnies: Vintage Ray Ban's that I bought at a yard sale for 50 cents! (I kid you not)
Necklace: Vintage
Tee: H&M from many years ago
Skirt: Vintage dress that I altered into a skirt
Shoes: Vintage from thrift store
Furry Friend: my brother's rescued pit bull, Zeus
Location: my parents' backyard, Tiverton, RI

Tournees Film Festival

Every year Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island holds a really great French Film Festival. I've been the past few years and have seen some superb films in the art house theaters of Newport or in lecture halls on Salve's campus. The best part about it: it's FREE!! and it looks like there are some wonderful films playing this year. Tomorrow evening I am going to see "I’ve Loved You So Long" or "Il y a longtemps que je t’aime". This film is starring Kristen Scott Thomas as a woman who has just been released from prison after 15 years as she struggles to reconnect to her family and adjust back to normal life. Hope you'll join me tomorrow or venture out to see one of the other films in the festival. Click here for more info.

Studios and Summer Frocks

Things have been going extremely well in the Fidget Finds department. I have a few potential studio/office/retail locations to look at that are big, close, and cheap and I scored a major jackpot at the thrift yesterday. I'm talking plaid and romper jackpot, with some bright stripes and floral prints mixed in. These pieces are currently hanging to dry so you can expect some wonderful bright new things in the etsy shop next week. Go Spring!