Shannon Ables's Blog, page 327
June 24, 2015
Decor Inspiration: Modern Victorian Charm
House Beautiful showcased this beautiful kitchen in their June 2015 issue, and I couldn’t wait to share on the blog. Located in San Francisco, designer Antonio Martins integrated old and new, keeping the original Victorian stove and utilizing the barn wood island and old-fashioned cupboards to balance the classic with the contemporary. As a fan of minimalism, I am drawn to the open shelving as it prompts the cook to have only what they need, but also use tools as decor, rather than cluttering the kitchen with more. The Droog chandelier, while expensive, certainly brings the modern touch to this 1896 space.
~DECOR INSPIRATION POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
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Word of the Week: No. 8
Click below for pronunciation:
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~WORDS OF THE WEEK FROM THE ARCHIVES:
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June 23, 2015
Outfit of the Week: Bare Shouldered Style
~Tibi Satin Poplin Off-the-Shoulder Tunic~
~Sole Society Georgia mid-heel wedge~
~MiH Jeans, The Breathless low-rise skinny jeans or these or these (all on sale)~
~Ben-Amun gold-plated necklace~
~Halston Heritage leather bucket bag (50% off)~
SHOP THE OUTFIT:
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Style Inspiration: Navy & Stripes
Nothing sings the style of summer like stripes, and as I mentioned in this interview with Kimberly Wilson as we discussed the topic of a capsule wardrobe, navy truly is one of the most neutral colors to carry over from spring to fall effortlessly. Have fun finding inspiration for your next outfit or items to pack for your upcoming getaway.
~STYLE INSPIRATION POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
Images: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
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June 22, 2015
Tranquility du Jour Interview: What is the Simply Luxurious Life?
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Marianne Williamson
As the school year wrapped up, one of my students included Marianne Williamson’s quote in her final project, and I must say the timing was quite serendipitous as it was a beautiful reminder that we need to give ourselves permission to shine because each of us has so much to offer the world and those we love. As it happens, Williamson’s quote was mentioned repeatedly in my recent interview with blogger and talented entrepreneur Kimberly Wilson, so I thought I should include it.
As blogger, when I began TSLL in 2009, one of the first bloggers I looked to as a guide and example was Kimberly Wilson, founder of Tranquility du Jour. Along with her inspiring blog, she is the creative director and founder of Tranquil Space – named among the top 25 yoga studios in the world by Travel + Leisure, author of Hip Tranquil Chick and Tranquilista, and holds a Master’s in Women’s Studies.
I feel fortunate to have been invited to be interviewed for a second time (2011 was our first chat) to discuss my book Choosing The Simply Luxurious Life: A Modern Woman’s Guide. The topics stretch far and wide, and her ease of presence made it an easy conversation to have. Listen to the interview and check out Kimberly Wilson’s blog here.
Topics Discussed:
What is the simply luxurious life?
Traveling in style?
Indulging your inner Francophile
Letting go of society’s expectations
Living consciously
Capsule wardrobe
How to live your best life?
My keys to living well
My daily breakfast menu that keeps me energized throughout the day
Books mentioned: Simple Abundance, Tuesdays with Morrie , The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz, Susan Cain’s Quiet
Diana Vreeland’s documentary, The Eye Has to Travel
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Why Not . . . Make the Most of Summer?
“Then followed that beautiful season…Summer….
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.”
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Simple Sophisticate, episode #43
Yesterday, June 21st, summer officially began here in the Northern Hemisphere, and as I was zipping around this past weekend doing errands, it truly began to feel like summer: More tourists, more out of state license plates, more of those tantalizing scents wafting about the neighborhood, and an ample need for sunscreen.
And while as a teacher, I have the opportunity of a three month hiatus to solely focus on blogging and leisure, I realize not everyone has this luxury. However, because the days are longer, the fresh food more plentiful and the outdoor activities more readily in abundance, I wanted to share with you 15 ways to embrace and make the most of these next three months whether you have the opportunity to get out of town on a long, restorative vacation or will be simply enjoying the summer season offerings of your hometown.
1. Practice Yoga or Meditation
Last December, the United Nations, with the urging of India’s Prime Minister Norendra Modi, officially announced that June 21st or the day that falls between June 20-22nd (it varies each year), would be International Yoga Day. Perhaps, if you are a fan or one who practices yoga, you were already made aware of this and participated in a special event yesterday at your local yoga studio, but even if yoga or mediation doesn’t interest you, the idea of integrating the body and the mind just might.
As your schedule slows down and the days become longer, perhaps this is the ideal time to try and incorporate the habit of either yoga or mediation into your daily or weekly routine. Did you know the purpose for yoga is to prepare the mind and body for meditation? However, whether you prefer one or the other or both, why not start this summer? Why start a habit this summer you may ask? Studies have shown that developing a habit of any type requires consistent effort of 7-11 times, and with the time that summer allows, this may just be the opportunity you’ve been looking for. Click here for more benefits and ideas on yoga and here for meditation.
2. Luxuriate in Sleep
Hopefully your schedule is lightening a smidge and your body can begin to get back into a healthy rhythm. The beautiful and amazing fact about our bodies is that it will ask for what it wants, we just need to pay attention. If you can get to a point of waking up without an alarm clock or going to bed without help, you will notice a profound improvement in your energy levels, and thus your overall quality of life.
During the summer months, make sure to keep your bedroom cool enough, sleep in natural fibers (turn down the duvet) and if you can, leave your windows open to welcome in fresh air as it does help the body sleep more deeply (if it is cool outside in the evenings). If your body needs prompting in the evenings to go to sleep, create a few evening rituals that hint to your body that it is time to unwind. Here are a few ideas I enjoy.
3. Establish an Unplugged Schedule
While it may for many of us be impossible to limit our tech time due to work and family demands, why not just for the summer create a schedule that allows you to be free from your phone, your iPad, even your computer at regular intervals. Whether it is putting all electronics away at 6pm, or making weekends tech-free, allow your mind to relax and be fully present in the moment. Who knows? Perhaps you will realize you can truly live without the wi-fi connection more often than you had thought.
4. Go Outside
The longer and warmer days offer many different activities to be enjoyed outdoors, whether it is an early morning or late evening walk in the soft daylight, or sitting outside to read the morning newspaper, take advantage of the change of scenery and weather to appreciate the gifts of Mother Nature right outside your door.
~click here to buy the hat~
5. Schedule a Me-Day
Whether you prefer a spa day or a day along the hiking paths outside your town, schedule a day weeks in advance so that you have something to look forward to and luxuriate in this precious, much-needed time alone.
6. Revamp Eating Habits
With more availability of fresh and local produce, revamping your diet to include quality food that will satiating your hunger without having to eat as much, as well as feeding your body well, is the gift of summer. And similar to the inclusion of yoga or mediation, perhaps instilling such a beneficial habit will be something that is easier to carry into the remaining nine months. (A post you might enjoy: Why Not . . . Eat Local Produce?)
~Articles & Blog Posts to Read: “The Best Diet is Deliciousness” via The Wall Street Journal and Why Not . . . Feed Your Body Well?
7. Indulge in Leisure Reading
Summer time always brings to mind free reading time. Free to read whatever I please without explanation. Time to get lost in nonsense, fluff or fanciful dreams. Currently I am reading Candace Bushnell’s Killing Monica, and I must say, it fits this definition perfectly.
8. Enjoy the Local Offerings
Typically each town or city curates a summer guide of all the local events, markets and concerts for the tourists and locals to enjoy during the warmer months. Often created by the chamber of commerce or the local newspaper, be sure to pick one up and plan your summer calendar around the events you want to experience. Who knows? Maybe you will discover something new in the town you’ve lived in for quite some time.
9. Plan a Picnic
One of the most lovely excursions to enjoy outdoors: A picnic. Whether in your backyard, at your local park or in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, pack a bottle of wine, fruit, a baguette and the local favorite offerings at the farmers’ market and lose track of time. With a friend or by yourself with a lovely leisurely read, a picnic in the summer is a must-do.
The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket
10. Hang a Hammock
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.”
– John Lubbock
For me, I have always had a love affair with the hammock. Have I swung in one very many times? No. Perhaps that is why I long for one in my own backyard. There is something quite tranquil about being suspended above the ground, gently swinging back and forth, and having the ability to lie back and dream, read or be lulled to sleep for an afternoon nap. Needless to say, all the reasons I love summer so.
11. Enjoy a Concert Outside
Maybe a band or musician is singing outside at a local restaurant that you happened to sit down to enjoy a meal or perhaps you are strolling through the local markets and the music of local musicians prompts you to tap your toes. Or better yet, maybe you have an amphitheater in your community and grand talents are invited to treat the locals. Either way, such occasions are only available during the summer months in most locales, so stop, enjoy and dance along.
~Bend Amphitheater Events Calendar: Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Pink Martini and more!
12. Travel As Much As You Can
It isn’t every summer that our budgets allow us to travel or perhaps it is our schedules that make it impossible. I know that for the majority of my twenties, I was unable to travel hardly at all, even though I was aching to wander. However, whether you are able to travel across the oceans or simply across county lines, if an opportunity arises that piques your interest, grab hold. Since we are never sure what we will experience, we are always assured something new that may spark something within us, teach us something about ourselves or even the world we live in, prompting us to return a changed person, a better person perhaps. So go, travel, and lose yourself. Perhaps along the way, you will find out more about yourself.
13. Appreciate a Garden
Maybe you wish to have your own garden or a small potted herb garden in your kitchen, or maybe you simple want to appreciate the bounty available from growers in the area as you pick up and purchase their deliciousness at the farmers’ market. Either way, indulge in the gifts of the soil when tended to over time with careful attention. You will be amazed at the difference in flavor. A few years ago, I shared my own experience as I too have a small herb garden and created a mini garden in a pot for my lettuce and other vegetables. View the post here for inspiration and ideas to start your very own: Why Not . . . Create A Mini Garden?
14. Eat Outside
One of my favorite daily routines in the summer is to sit out on the porch when I visit my parents in Wallowa County, sip a hot cup of tea and listen to the birds chirp and go about their business (my most recent moment was shared on Instagram this past weekend here, here and here). There really is anything quite like it. Add some wonderful reading material, and my day is off to a great start. Whether you prefer to start or end your day outdoors, if the weather permits, why not? It’s not something that can be indulged in year-round for most of us, and it offers us a chance to appreciate amazing simple luxuries.
15. Learn Something New
My call to action for you as well as myself is to vow to learn something new by the end of the summer season. Whether it is information about a historical figure or event gleaned at a museum on your worldly travels, or a skill newly attempted and now something you are more accustomed with by the end of August and mid-September, try something new, explore somewhere you’ve never been, and begin the next season with new knowledge and perhaps a new dose of confidence.
I look forward to sharing with you what I attempt these next few months (one is depicted below, Oscar is loving it, to my delight!), and feel free to share your newfound knowledge and skills either in the comments of this post or on Instagram. Simply tag me (@thesimplyluxuriouslife), or include the has tag #mysimplyluxuriouslife or #thesimplyluxuriouslife.
~yep, Norman and I out on Wallowa Lake on a Monday morning~
Summer brings with it a change in one way or another for each of us: Some changes we look forward to (lighter schedule, travel, etc) and other changes we don’t (extreme heat, sunburns and travel delays), but each year I come to appreciate the season even more as I fall in love with Mother Nature’s gifts, take advantage of what is not available during the other three seasons and use the extra time to fine tune my own daily routine in hopes that I can carry forward into the regular routine when it arrives the serenity I have found during the season of long, leisurely days.
I hope you have an amazing three months. Have a wonderful week and thank you for stopping by.
~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
~Why Not . . Welcome the Summer Season?
~Why Not . . . Have a Yard Sale?
~Why Not . . . Savor the Last Days of Summer?
Petit Plaisir:
Catastrophe, Amazon Original Comedy Series (6 episodes), premiered June 19, 2015 in the US, available in the UK via Amazon in the coming months
~Starring, written and created by actress Sharon Hogan & comedian Rob Delaney, guest starring
~Free for Amazon Prime Members
Images: (1) (1.5) (2) (3) (3.5) (3.6) (3.75) (4)
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June 19, 2015
This & That: No. 163
App
~TuneIn
Whether you are on your computer or your phone, your favorite music and/or radio station will always be at your fingertips thanks to TuneIn. Download for free or visit on your desktop for easy listening at home or work, the options of radio stations are endless. I have officially found my radio for my classroom and for long drives when not one radio station is available in my car.
Book
~Under the Bus: How Working Women Are Being Run Over by Caroline Fredrickson
Caroline Fredrickson, a DC insider who understands what is working, and what is available, yet not being fought for when it comes to equality for all working women in all fields (blue and white collar), offers her insight and perhaps a wake up call to not only women but society to be vocal in order to gain protections to ensure a better future for all working women. Released last month, click here to read a review of her book.
Shopping
~Cuyana Turkish Cotton Robe
As someone who loves stripes and loves white when it comes to basic necessities around the house, when I happened upon Cuyana’s Turkish cotton robe, I immediately began saving up my pennies. For less than $100, this beautiful robe can be used for home or play on the beach. Made with Turkish cotton and premium bamboo, the dry time is minimal and the beauty is readily apparent. Available in pink and purple stripes as well, if you’re in the market for a quality robe, I think I’ve found one for you.
~Thomas Maier Palm Tree Embossed Leather Sandals
A classic brown leather sandals with the label’s simple signature palm-tree logo embedded ever-so-minimally on the top, these stylish, yet timeless sandals are ideal for summer outings or luxuriating around the house in style.
Television
~Poldark, Season 2
It has been nearly forty years since the original series debuted on PBS, and with the return last season to an overwhelming support, the second season begins on Masterpiece this Sunday (June 21st) with eight new episodes. Starring Aidan Turner (The Hobbit) as Ross Poldark, the series is based on Winston Graham’s novels which were published beginning in 1945. Set in Cornwall, England, Poldark returns after the American Revolutionary war to see his former life in ruins, and thus the story begins. Have a look at the trailer below:
Travel
~Ventev Dashport Universal Car Charger ($19)
If the upcoming summer months are calling for more than a few hours in your car or perhaps you will be traveling with many different devices or people (and we all know we need to keep them charged, I have the device for you. Mentioned in The Wall Street Journal last week, the Ventev universal car charger is compatible with just about any tech device’s USB charge cord. For less than $20, charge your every phone 75% faster and with certainty.
~recipe for Rhubarb Tart with Oatmeal Crust~
Earlier this week a beloved series that has been on hiatus here on the blog returned. Decor Inspiration restarted with a beautiful cozy beach house you will certainly want to tour (and perhaps purchase as it is for sale). But to whet your whistle even more, click here to tour the rest of the home that coordinates with the bathroom above. Don’t you just want to soak in that bathtub forever eternity with a glass of wine or a partner as accompaniment? Count me in, please.
In other TSLL news, sign-ups for the annual TSLL online styling sessions are about to begin. Set your alarm clocks for Saturday morning (June 20th) at 1am Pacific Daylight Time because the first 12 readers who email to secure their spot on the styling list will be able to hire me as their online stylist. I will be shopping and styling a fall (or spring for my Aussie/New Zealand readers) capsule wardrobe which will consist of 10-15 items, styled into 10 different outfits. Styling sessions will be scheduled for the month of August and September, and each of the first 12 people will have one week to place a 50% deposit down to secure their spot. For more details click here. (email: style@thesimplyluxuriouslife.com)
Last, but not least, next Saturday, June 27th, if you will be in the Connecticut or New York City area, be sure to stop by Elm Street Books in New Canaan, CT, as I will be signing copies of my first book Choosing The Simply Luxurious Life: A Modern Woman’s Guide between noon and 2:30. Click here to find out the exact location.
And with the business out of the way, let the weekend begin! Below are a few articles you might enjoy reading in your free time. And no matter how you choose to spend your weekend, I do hope you have an amazing time. Until Monday, bon weekend!
~Summer is a great time to focus on good health. And this article from The New York Times points out a simple fat often forgotten, To Lose Weight, Eating Less is Far More Important Than Exercising More
~Helen Mirren has a few choice words to say about Ageism in Hollywood.
~If your weekend plans involve the Farmers’ Market, read this: Farmers’ Market Etiquette: 8 Ways to Be a Good Customer
~Some inspiration and motivation . . . Strengthen Your Willpower: How to Build Perseverance and Avoid Distractions
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June 18, 2015
Decor Inspiration: Washington Beach Getaway
I don’t know about you, but a getaway to the beach sounds quite lovely. And in even better news, this tiny beach house is currently available if you are looking to invest in a vacation property in Washington state. Located at Tyee Beach on Camano Island just one hour away from Seattle, the masterful use of the 355 square feet is baffling. With a large outdoor living space, beach front views and classic beach decor in light, airy colors and natural textures, if I could, I would invest today. Enjoy the tour! (Click here to buy.)
~DECOR INSPIRATION POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES:
~Contemporary Chic in the City
Source: House Beautiful
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June 17, 2015
Outfit of the Week: Contemporary, yet Classic Navy
~J.W. Anderson Striped Wrap Dress~
~Gianvito Rossi leather mules or Sigerson Morrison color-block leather sandals~
~Sophie Hulme envelope small color-block leather shoulder bag (30% off)~
~Kenneth Jay Lane gold plated earrings~
SHOP THE OUTFIT:
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Word of the Week: No. 7
Click for pronunciation:
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WORDS OF THE WEEK FROM THE ARCHIVES:
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