Shannon Ables's Blog, page 280

Talking Simply Luxurious Living

There is a first time for everything, and sometimes doing something that isn’t well-known or what you are accustomed to doing, if my experience on KATU-TV is any indication, just jump in, say yes and give it your best shot.  When producer Katie Arthur reached out this past summer to ask if I wanted to be a guest on a new show airing on Portland’s KATU, I was trepidatious (more because of my reluctance to get in front of the camera than anything else). However, once she introduced the concept of the new show Afternoon Live hosted by Tra’Renee Chambers, I recognized that she was offering something I didn’t want to refuse.

As it was my first time on live television, I didn’t know what to expect; however, all nerves were quickly erased as KATU’s staff, crew and fellow guests were inviting, warm and helpful in walking me through the process. Have a look at the segment below that aired live on KATU-TV yesterday.

~the outfit details: DVF midi dress, Jennifer DeMoro necklace, DVF boots (old), similar here and here~

This & That: October 21, 2016

Book
—Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy by Sadhguru

If you regularly attend yoga classes or appreciate the power of welcoming yoga into your physical and mental fitness routine, be sure to check out yogi Sadhguru’s new and already New York Times Bestselling book. In the quest for well-being discover how yoga can play a crucial role in Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy.

—Ten Restaurants That Changed America by Paul Freedman 

I have been hearing quite a lot about Paul Freedman’s new book, but it wasn’t until I heard his interview on Splendid Table that I took note. Offering a wonderfully intriguing book for both foodies and history-lovers alike, discover where white glove service was absolutely the norm here in the states as well the restaurants that shifted how Americans eat today.

Cookbook
—A New Way to Dinner: A Playbook of Recipes and Strategies for the Week Ahead by Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs

Just released this week, if you are looking for a plan for tackling the week all the while ensuring quality and delicious meals as you navigate your busy schedule, you will want to take a look at blog FOOD52‘s new cookbook A New Way to Dinner. A significant piece of advice is to cook ahead, but the good news is they go into great detail to show you what and then how to pull it all together throughout the week.

Music
—Norah Jones, Day Breaks

I was thoroughly excited to hear that Norah Jones was returning to her jazz roots, similar to what the world first came to recognize her by with her 8-time Grammy winning album Come Away with Me. Released earlier this month, Day Breaks is sure to satiate original and continual fans of Jones. It just so happened I was listening to my favorite jazz station and this song came on that I didn’t recognize. I loved it immediately and then listened more closely. I knew I recognized the voice. Yep. It was Norah and it was from her new CD. Have a listen to one of her songs below.

Shopping
—Sam Edelman ‘Victoria’ Slouch Boot

As I mentioned in Tuesday’s Style Inspiration post, I have been seriously considering adding suede knee (and possibly over-the-knee boots) to my fall wardrobe. And at Sam Edelman’s prices, it is certainly more possible.

—SARTO by Franco Sarto ‘Kayla’ over the knee boot

Needless to say, these over-the-knee boots caught my attention. Worn with a midi dress or skirt, they will not only look great, but keep you warm as well.

~recipe for Sweet Cinnamon Buns~

A very sweet weekend as arrived. Combined with the culmination of the blog’s new design being revealed earlier this week and exciting opportunities happening today that will usher in a weekend of much needed rest, I have waited patiently for this very weekend to arrive. I hope you are looking forward to this weekend as well. I hope you have plans to do what either your body, mind or spirit need. Sometimes, the work week can be busy, more demanding than expected, and it is when we listen to our bodies that we realize indeed some down time is needed. However, perhaps you find yourself on the flip side and in need of so much craved entertainment, celebration and socializing. If that is the case the weekend can become yours for the enjoying as well. That is the beauty of the two day respite, no?

I want to thank so many of you who stopped by on Monday and throughout the week to share their excitement and support. I cannot tell you how much the positive response meant. TSLL readers have always been there, and I look forward to the next part in the journey of the blog and all things simply luxurious. Have a lovely weekend, and for some weekend reading, a few articles below that you might enjoy. Bon journée! (P.S. – if you live in the Portland, Oregon, area, be sure to turn on your televisions to KATU-TV between 3-4 as you just might find someone you recognize on Afternoon Live. I’ll share more details tomorrow.)

~French Lifestyle blogger Sharon Santoni takes a tour through a beautiful country home in England

~Qualities of a Conscious, Loving Relationships – learn 7 of them here

~Did you know? The Plaza Hotel is launching classes on modern etiquette

~Traveling to NYC soon? Check out these 9 Trendy Places to Meet, Work or Hang Out

~Fellow lovers of France take note: 20 More Places in France You Never Thought to Visit (but definitely should)

~Let’s stay in France and travel specifically to Paris: Discover the stories behind the charming storefronts

~Emma Stone answers Vogue’s 73 Questions:

October 21, 2016

Book
—Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy by Sadhguru

If you regularly attend yoga classes or appreciate the power of welcoming yoga into your physical and mental fitness routine, be sure to check out yogi Sadhguru’s new and already New York Times Bestselling book. In the quest for well-being discover how yoga can play a crucial role in Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy.

—Ten Restaurants That Changed America by Paul Freedman 

I have been hearing quite a lot about Paul Freedman’s new book, but it wasn’t until I heard his interview on Splendid Table that I took note. Offering a wonderfully intriguing book for both foodies and history-lovers alike, discover where white glove service was absolutely the norm here in the states as well the restaurants that shifted how Americans eat today.

Cookbook
—A New Way to Dinner: A Playbook of Recipes and Strategies for the Week Ahead by Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs

Just released this week, if you are looking for a plan for tackling the week all the while ensuring quality and delicious meals as you navigate your busy schedule, you will want to take a look at blog FOOD52‘s new cookbook A New Way to Dinner. A significant piece of advice is to cook ahead, but the good news is they go into great detail to show you what and then how to pull it all together throughout the week.

Music
—Norah Jones, Day Breaks

I was thoroughly excited to hear that Norah Jones was returning to her jazz roots, similar to what the world first came to recognize her by with her 8-time Grammy winning album Come Away with Me. Released earlier this month, Day Breaks is sure to satiate original and continual fans of Jones. It just so happened I was listening to my favorite jazz station and this song came on that I didn’t recognize. I loved it immediately and then listened more closely. I knew I recognized the voice. Yep. It was Norah and it was from her new CD. Have a listen to one of her songs below.

Shopping
—Sam Edelman ‘Victoria’ Slouch Boot

As I mentioned in Tuesday’s Style Inspiration post, I have been seriously considering adding suede knee (and possibly over-the-knee boots) to my fall wardrobe. And at Sam Edelman’s prices, it is certainly more possible.

—SARTO by Franco Sarto ‘Kayla’ over the knee boot

Needless to say, these over-the-knee boots caught my attention. Worn with a midi dress or skirt, they will not only look great, but keep you warm as well.

~recipe for Sweet Cinnamon Buns~

A very sweet weekend as arrived. Combined with the culmination of the blog’s new design being revealed earlier this week and exciting opportunities happening today that will usher in a weekend of much needed rest, I have waited patiently for this very weekend to arrive. I hope you are looking forward to this weekend as well. I hope you have plans to do what either your body, mind or spirit need. Sometimes, the work week can be busy, more demanding than expected, and it is when we listen to our bodies that we realize indeed some down time is needed. However, perhaps you find yourself on the flip side and in need of so much craved entertainment, celebration and socializing. If that is the case the weekend can become yours for the enjoying as well. That is the beauty of the two day respite, no?

I want to thank so many of you who stopped by on Monday and throughout the week to share their excitement and support. I cannot tell you how much the positive response meant. TSLL readers have always been there, and I look forward to the next part in the journey of the blog and all things simply luxurious. Have a lovely weekend, and for some weekend reading, a few articles below that you might enjoy. Bon journée! (P.S. – if you live in the Portland, Oregon, area, be sure to turn on your televisions to KATU-TV between 3-4 as you just might find someone you recognize on Afternoon Live. I’ll share more details tomorrow.)

~French Lifestyle blogger Sharon Santoni takes a tour through a beautiful country home in England

~Qualities of a Conscious, Loving Relationships – learn 7 of them here

~Did you know? The Plaza Hotel is launching classes on modern etiquette

~Traveling to NYC soon? Check out these 9 Trendy Places to Meet, Work or Hang Out

~Fellow lovers of France take note: 20 More Places in France You Never Thought to Visit (but definitely should)

~Let’s stay in France and travel specifically to Paris: Discover the stories behind the charming storefronts

~Emma Stone answers Vogue’s 73 Questions:

Live Simply, Live Well Notepads – New!

Life is full of ideas to observe and tasks to complete. And am always in need of a piece of paper to write on. While I do type ideas into my phone’s “list” app, I appreciate and prefer having a piece of paper that I can mark with a pen or pencil and rip off to reveal a fresh new page for a brand new list.

Inslee’s illustrations for TSLL blog have become a significant part of the brand recognition, and I quickly realized readers love for them as well. This past summer I introduced the first two notepads (To Market and To Do), as well as the Capsule Menu Planning notepad, and realized one more notepad was missing: a notepad left blank for you to do and use in whichever way you want in your daily routine. Perhaps for writing quotes down to remind yourself of before you start your day, or maybe to leave notes for those you love. However you want to use the new “Live Simply, Live Well” notepads is up for you to decide, and they even come with an attachable magnet should you want to place them on your refrigerator.

Some other details:

50 tear-off notepad
white 20lb wt recyclable paper
full color illustration
4″ x 7″
$9 each

And for a limited time, a special discount for orders of $20 or more. Simply enter the coupon code NOTEPAD15 to receive 15% off your order through Monday October 31st.

Below you will see a few other combinations that the new “Live Well” notepad is included:

3-pack – $25
TSLL Notepad Package (all three notepads: To Market, To Do, Live Well) – $20
More packages are available as well as single orders of To Market and To Do here. 

 

~Live Well notepad, $9~

 

~Live Well 3-pack, $25~

 

 

 

~TSLL Notepad Package, $20~ 

~More combinations and individual offerings of TSLL Notepads are available here.

Simple White Luxury

During the summer months I took in the local Parade of Homes here in Bend (here and here), and they did not disappoint. With homes soaring into the seven figures or at least nestling quite cozily up against the edge between six and seven digits, the designers’ limits seemed infinite. One of the most prominent themes in each of the kitchens was pendant lighting in the kitchen. Each home elected for their own unique style, but similar to what you see above, the pendants were a statement all unto themselves. As well, the farmer’s sink, white countertops and gourmet stovetop were essentials seen everywhere.

And while I noticed it here in Bend, after perusing through this luxuriously simple and fresh home in Los Angeles which was featured in Domino, it is clear, these trends have some staying power and are ubiquitous around the country and beyond. Enjoy the tour and learn more about the details of each room here.

 

       

       

 

 

A Layout to Love

As someone who likes routine, I have implemented many different ones into my personal life (grocery shopping on Sundays, balancing the budget on the first day of the month, etc.), teaching practices (certain days of the week, certain activities will occur like clockwork) and here on TSLL blog (the weekly schedule of posts is located here under FAQ).

While I do enjoy spontaneity and unexpected jaunts and journeys, I find that having a routine allows more of these memorable moments to occur, ironic as that may sound. And so, it was with this in mind that I wanted to create a destination here on TSLL blog where you would know exactly where to find what you were looking for to not only save yourself time and have a more enjoyable experience, but to open up the opportunity of exploring something you may not have expected but that all of a sudden captured your eye.

The layout of the homepage of the new TSLL is organized so that you can easily locate the post, the topic and the information you are seeking no matter when you might have the time to visit.

Here is everything you will need to know to navigate the homepage:

~The most recent podcast and link to the show notes will be seen just below the largest image at the top of the homepage (the most recent post). Simply click on the linked title next to “Current Episode”, and you will be immediately directed to the full post with the show notes.

~The top image, just below the header, will be the most recent post that has gone live (unless it is a podcast).

~The two images side by beside below the podcast will be the 2nd and 3rd most recent posts.

~Permanent Homes of Categories on the Homepage. I am so excited about this addition to the blog’s design:

For the most recent Style Inspiration post, you will always find it just below the 2nd and 3rd most recent.
Just below Style Inspiration’s permanent home is the most recent This & That so you can always be in-the-know of what is going on, what’s new and available or premiering throughout the current week.
Next, you will see a row of three posts. All of these will always be the three most recent Lifestyle posts as you look for inspiration and ideas throughout the week.
Moving on down, two large posts will be placed side by side: on the left, the most recent Petite Post (just like this one), and on the right, for my travelers and lovers of Bend, Oregon, the most recent Bend, Sweet Bend post.
The “Weekly Finds” that used to be in the right-hand column has moved to just below the permanent Petite Post and Bend, Sweet Bend spots. You will find a scroll of finds from books, clothing, shoes, decor and kitchen items updated weekly. Simply click and shop.
And the final two permanent category locations are just below the “Weekly Finds”: the most recent French-Inspired post (on the left) and the most recent Recipe (on the right).

Below these permanent locations, the most recent posts (4th through 10th) will be shown, so you can be sure to stay caught up and remain in the known.

The last visual you will see just above the French blue footer is a scroll of the most recent Instagram images. By the end of the week, you will be able to click on any of the images and be taken to IG to view the comments and read each post’s text.

Another helpful aspect is the clickability of the blog. On each post on the homepage, you can either click on the title and go directly to the post or click on the category title and be taken to that category’s page to view all of the content published on that topic.

Two last details to point out:

Signing up for either the daily emails which send you a preview of the most recent post or the weekly newsletter (which arrives each Friday and includes all of the posts and episodes from the week, as well as an extra dose of inspiration) is available in the upper left-hand corner of the blog. Simply click on “Sign up for TSLL Newsletters” and choose the newsletter you would like to sign up for. As there are four available, currently, you have to sign up for each individually. However, we are working to simplify this process.
The Simply Luxurious Life Accoutrements: Just below the permanent Style Inspiration post, you will see on the right-hand side a scrolling window with the three items designed exclusively with TSLL illustrations: TSLL Notepads, TSLL Planner Pages and the Capsule Menu Weekly Planner notepads.

Most importantly, enjoy stopping by. It is my hope that you will be inspired to live your very own simply luxurious life each and every day and have confidence in knowing you have a destination that will always offer endless inspiration anytime you wish to drop in.

 

Versace Atelier Per Tutti!

Fashion and food. Two of my favorite things. Throwing in bit of politics is not a bad thing either, at least for me, but at the forefront of the occasion was the Atelier Versace designs. Both First Lady Michelle Obama and Italian Prime Minister’s wife Agnese Landini chose to wear the revered fashion house’s designs, and the fashion elite nodded in approval if you scan the internet and news this morning.

Speaking of food, as it was a state dinner to honor the Italian head of state, Mario Batali was chosen to cook the meal for the final grand occasion of the Obama Presidency with the collaboration of White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and executive pastry chef Susan Morrison. Have a look at the menu here.

 

~View all Petite Posts here. 

Why Not . . . Utilize Fashion as a Medium of Communication?

“People think costumes are fun, it’s fantasy and it’s sort of frivolous, but it is an integral part of good story-telling.” —Sarah Jessica Parker

Dressing each morning, evening or simply to step outdoors with my dogs to take a walk always provokes me to consider what I am wearing. Maybe because I enjoy my own company, but being out in society at the same time or maybe because I simply love clothing and the beauty of a well put together outfit, but I recognize that what I wear is a means of communicating with the world without saying a word.

For example, if I step outside in the early morning to collect my paper in my robe, if someone sees me, they may discern I have just woken up. Contrarily, if I leave my home in a tailored ensemble that exhibits I have dressed to the nines, on-lookers may surmise my destination is somewhere of importance to me.

As I tuned into CBS Sunday Morning’s interview with Sarah Jessica Parker this past weekend, I took note of her quote above regarding beautifully made clothing. And as she reflected on Sex and the City and shared that there is a possibility of a third movie (“it is in the butler’s pantry”, as she said it), I couldn’t help but wonder . . . (too much?) about the power of our clothing.

As members of society, what we wear communicates just as much about what we feel our role in society is and while our actions make a significant difference, we forget that while we may not come into contact with everyone who sees us, we unconsciously and consciously are influencing others around us in a variety of ways.

“We communicate a society’s beliefs, values and experiences through practices, artifacts and institutions. Where, in this case, the practices, artifacts and institutions are fashion and clothing.” – Malcolm Bernard

What I would like to suggest to you today is reducing the unconscious influence we may be wielding and harnessing our sartorial power of how we can more effectively communicate. After all, we’ve already been learning how to communicate verbally and with our body language, why not become a triple threat in taking advantage of what we do have in our control?

Let’s look at the many different ways we can use the clothes we choose to wear to communicate:

1. As armor

I’ve always especially been drawn this this analogy. Aisling of Trésor Parisien once shared with me that the clothing we choose to wear is much like our armor from the world, many aspects unknown on any given day. Similar to stepping out of our sanctuary where we can let our hair down and relax, when we do cross the threshold, leaving our home, knowing we have the necessary armor gives us peace of mind and supports our confidence.

2. As an appreciation

What we wear can also reveal what we appreciate. From a particular designer’s talents, to our love for a favorite band or event, clothing, as Lauren Collins in When in French reveals, can share what we love and perhaps, as was her case, open the door to meeting her future husband.

~SJP in Oscar de la Renta at the Met’s 2014 Gala~

3. To elevate

Clothing can immediate reveal someone’s status or the status of which they would like to be considered. Depending upon the setting, the appropriate attire worn with confidence can exude a powerful exterior that others, even if they didn’t know you, would lead them to assume you were someone of authority or importance in that institution. Often, when we dress for the part we want, we can at the very least give ourselves an opportunity to grab it. The key is to match what we say as well as our mannerism with someone who is what we aspire to be.

4. To assimilate

The wearing of denim is often a simple way to easily fit in no matter where you are. Not sure about the dress code for an evening out with new friends? Wear jeans. Often leaders who are trying to assimilate with their constituents will dress down in a casual setting as a subtle attempt to be considered one with the people they represent. It is a seemingly small gesture, but it projects an idea of casual comfort that is not offensive if worn in a manner that respects the mores of the situation.

~Duchess of Cambridge during the Canadian royal tour in 2016~

5. To express an identity

Last but not least, what we wear reveals to the world who we are. Whether it is the t-shirt over a 3/4 length baseball tee worn by Sheldon of The Big Bang or Carrie Bradshaw’s eclectic combinations of high fashion and consignment finds, we reveal a little piece of who we are, what we are passionate and how seriously we want others to take us without uttering a word. The beauty is, as we all know, who we understand ourselves to be changes and evolves, and therefore our clothing most likely will as well.

Clothing can indeed tell a story, and just as it tells a story in movies, plays and on television, it as well tells the story of our individual lives and how we are doing at this very moment. Just as we need to continue to improve our vocabulary and our knowledge of the world we live in so that we can translate and understand all that surrounds us, understanding how and what the clothes we wear communicate is to, in many ways, become more fluent in another language. So perhaps you are multilingual and you didn’t even know it.

A Worthwhile Necessity, Disguised as a Luxury

Part of living simply luxuriously is being discerning with what we bring into our lives as to not clutter our homes, our minds and our time with anything that will drain our energy or our bank account needlessly or unnecessarily. However, it is errant to assume that we cannot invest in items that will perform phenomenally and last for ages.

One of the features I was excited to improve upon with TSLL’s new blog design was TSLL Shop. You will notice it in the Menu Bar just below the header that is always available to click on no matter where you scroll on the homepage or any page for that matter, which makes it handy to search for whatever may tickle your fancy. The drop-down menu offers 11 different mini “boutiques” if you will for you to peruse based on your interest.

Capsule Wardrobe
Beauty
Books
Cookbooks
Capsule Menu
Decor
Francophile Finds
Kitchen
TSLL Planner
TSLL Notepads
Stylist Services

Each of these boutiques will be updated with new items as I find, fall in love with and highly recommend. For example, with each new book shared on the weekly This & That, those books will be placed in TSLL Shop, all Francophile Finds will be placed in the Francophile Finds destination and so on and so forth. You can organize each of these mini shops according to the latest added, most popular, etc. Simply click on the drop-down menu in the right-hand corner of each boutique.

But back to the approach of investing in what on the surface and to outsiders may seem like a luxury, but in reality is actually a worthwhile investment.

I continue to be reminded that while I may not be able to invest in everything I want, when I do, when I save, when I plan, when I investigate what will be worth the purchase, I am rarely disappointed. Whether it is with clothing items or cooking items, quality pays off dividends with the results it engenders (a chic outfit or delicious food), and how long it will last and perform magnificently with each use.

During the holidays last year, I received as a gift from my parents my first piece of copper cookware. My mother, knowing I love to cook and also knowing I prefer to have fewer items so long as they are of top quality did some investigating and learned the story and the reason why Mauviel copper pans are revered by top chefs around the globe.

Coincidentally, it all began in 1830 near Mont-Saint-Michel in a Normandy village called Villedieu-les-Poêles. The French know how to produce quality cookware (no wonder their food tastes delicious!). Well, Villedieu-les-Poêles in French means “the city of copper” and this particular village has an 800 year heritage of copper manufacturing.

It is with this grand ancestry of expertise that the company continues to manufacture products for the home and professional cook and chef. And the quality is superb. My skillet is 10.2″, has a polished copper exterior and a cast iron handle which is something they are known for (and boy, are those handles heavy). Each dish, from fish to eggs to everything in between cooks evenly, quickly and slips out of the skillet beautifully. I continue to carefully wash this skillet after each use as it feels as if I have been given a treasure.

Absolutely, these pans are an investment, but they will absolutely stay and be used in your kitchen for decades. Perhaps you’ll want to purchase one for someone you love and who loves to cook for the holidays or maybe put one item on your own wish list if you are like me and love to cook and cook well. Below are a handful of different styles, sizes and places to purchase.

SHOP Mauviel Cookware:

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Even if scrolling through them is a dream, rest assured you will find my favorite skillet from Mauviel in the Kitchen boutique in TSLL Shop whenever you are ready to add it to your kitchen, along with all of the other hand-picked, loved and recommended items. Stop by regularly and see what’s available or stop by when you know exactly what you’re looking for and want to see what’s recommended in the category you’re interested in.

 

An Eclectic Mix

No matter what I have in the closet or how much discretionary money I have available, I will always find time to seek out style inspiration. After all, when I see an item styled well, I can put it on my list as worth saving up for. For example, suede knee high or over-the-knee boots. The above image demonstrates that they can be worn with a more classic ensemble and add that unexpected, subtle statement. Hmmm . . . perhaps this item will be on my list when the end of season sales begin next month. Stuart Weitzman’s classic black perhaps?

(Remember, click on the image to be taken to the original source and learn even more about the outfit should it be available.)

 

~MORE STYLE INSPIRATION posts from the Archives, click here.