Jewel Boxes

Summer is still in full swing, but that hasn’t stopped retailers from rolling out next season's goods. I haven’t even had a chance to wear out my neon yellow clutch, and I’m already coveting next season’s rich jewel-toned bags. 

1. Juicy Couture Jocelyn Satchel, $298

2. Zara Crimson Plaited Shopper, $149

3. Balenciaga Town Mangue, $1445

4. Reed Krakoff Boxer Bag, $1190

5. Tory Burch Robinson Middy Satchel, $495

6. J. Crew Edie Purse, $198

Zucchini Bread

Now that the garden plot is at its peak, I’ve had an abundance of zucchini that I’ve been happy to put to use in my mom’s zucchini bread recipe. She adapted it from an old parish cookbook, and because it was a late summer staple in our house as I was growing up, it tastes just like August to me.

Ingredients:

1 cup  vegetable  oil

2  eggs,  slightly  beaten

2  cups  sugar

2  cups  grated  raw  zucchini

1  cup  grated  raw  carrots

2  teaspoons vanilla  extract (I love this)

3  cups  all  purpose  flour

1  teaspoon  baking  soda

1/4  teaspoon baking  powder

1  teaspoon  salt

3  teaspoons  ground  cinnamon

1  teaspoon  ground  nutmeg

1  cup  chopped nuts (I usually go with walnuts)

1  cup  raisins or dried cranberries (I went with the latter)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Combine raw and wet ingredients in a large bowl, stirring by hand 
• Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl
• Slowly mix wet and dry ingredients together
• Fold nuts and dried fruit into the batter, stirring gently without beating
• Spoon  batter  into 2 buttered  8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pans or unlined, buttered muffin tins
• Bake for 1 1/2 hours (slightly less if baking muffins)
• Let cool, put on a pretty plate, pour a glass of milk (preferably into one of these) and enjoy!

Suburban Sojourn

We attended the birthday party of our friends' very cute little 2-year old this past weekend, and we used the trip into the suburbs as an excuse to have breakfast at a new favorite spot (with bottomless mason jars of peach iced tea!) and visit the Bristol Renaissance Faire for a few hours (which was plenty, as I had forgotten the intensity of the experience). Even though it was unbearably hot, nothing could stop me from wearing my new, very event-appropriate leather booties. They almost made me look forward to Autumn. 

Glowing Glass

After reading this post, I immediately became jealous of a best friend in Seattle who can easily visit the Dale Chihuly exhibit at the Space Needle. Because I won’t be able to check it out with her, I revisited some of my personal photos from past shows in Phoenix and Columbus. If you're also not able to visit Chihuly's latest installation in person any time soon, I hope you enjoy my memories of the artist’s amazing, ornate glass tucked in among the landscapes of other locales…. 

PHOENIX, ARIZONA 

COLUMBUS, OHIO

Ship to Shore

The first few months of summer have been filled with many fond memories, and I’m thrilled to know that most have been captured here. As August rolls in, I’m eagerly looking forward to making more, including:

1. Continuing to watch the never-ending Olympics coverage (especially if it involves women's gymnastics or men's swimming)
2. Opening up this cookbook and picking a pie to bake at random
3. Wearing my new Saint-James Tee at every available opportunity
4. Renting a paddleboard to try out on Lake Michigan
5. Sneaking around to put the finishing touches on a secret birthday gift for my significant other (in a condo the size of ours, this is harder than you can imagine)
6. Spending a weekend morning, flagon of ale in hand, at the Renaissance Faire (perhaps you recall that I love all things 16th century England, easily my geekiest of traits)
7. Finding a new signature fragrance among sample scents from here, here and here
8. Keeping a yearly tradition alive and spending a few quiet days at a remote cabin in Northern Wisconsin
9. Organizing the errant magazine tear sheets littering my desk
10. Heading home to Cincinnati to visit with family and attend a wedding

Anything I should add to the list?