A dash of this, a pinch of that

(Photo source)

I'm more fond of baking (probably because I seem to have an insatiable sweet tooth) than I am of cooking. Don't get me wrong, I do like to cook and have quite the habit of collecting recipes. My bookmarks folder on my web browser even boasts a tab dedicated solely to intriguing recipes I encounter while searching the internet. Sadly, most of these recipes (meals and baked goods alike) have been left to collect virtual dust. So, I've made it my goal to try at least 4 new recipes per month starting with August and continuing through December. I figure this is a good and reasonable start. Come December, I'll assess my challenge and decide how I want to continue from there. And, throughout the course of my little project I'll be sure to share successes here on my blog.

My latest infatuation has been with old-fashioned recipes. I think this is where I'll begin! :)

Down by the bay

My visit with Erin has come and gone, albeit too soon, but that seems to be the way with vacations no matter how long their duration. Erin did a nice job at recapping our week (she is a far better writer than I!), so clicky-click here if you're interested in our shenanigans. I will say that despite some rather wonky weather for July we had a wonderful time.

Our day trip into Boston yielded some great finds. The only trouble was actually getting there. Our plan was to save some $ by parking at a garage and take the T into the city. Our first two attempts failed miserably as both parking garages we tried were full. Full! And on a Wednesday when the Red Sox were out of town. Oh well. So, we kept on driving straight into Bostontown only to miss a turn and drive right through it. Hehe, oops. We eventually made it to where we wanted to go, but only after a hair-raising detour through Somerville and Cambridge. Once there, it was nice to hit up Urban Outfitters again. I picked up a few things which I'll work into some outfit posts at a later date. And then came Zara. We had never been before, so checking it out for the first time was fun. I went in with the small hope of finding a pair of t-strap flats that I had seen on Raquel's blog, but had no idea when she bought them or if they were still available. Lo and behold, I found the only pair left, on sale, and in my size! Oh, happy day! :)

We're already planning another visit for sometime in the Fall. The thought of Autumn along the seashore has me supremely giddy!

Imaginary balloons!

Dress: thrift store, Cardigan & necklace: H&M, T-strap flats: Zara

Thank you for the photos, Erin! ♥

Turnpike

I'm convinced that I live too far inland. With that said, tomorrow morning I am embarking on a 3 1/2 hour drive to spend a few days along the Massachusetts coast. I have always been drawn to the splendor of the seaside with its salt-saturated air and soul-soothing rhythm of crashing waves. To make my mini-vacation even better, I'll be staying with one of my oldest and dearest friends. Erin and I have been friends since we were young girls, but not long after our budding friendship began her family packed up and moved out of state. For nine years we corresponded through letters, phone calls, and e-mails until she and her family relocated back east. This will be our 5th summer of enjoying each others company with coastal New England as our playground. Our previous summer fun has included visits to local beaches, strolling along the waterfront in Plymouth, quick jaunts to Cape Cod, day trips to Providence and Boston, and an endless array of coffee, Mexican food, manga, and shopping. This year we'll be heading to Boston again, but instead of hanging out in neighboring Cambridge (as we did last year and in 2007), we'll be wandering around Back Bay. I've been seething with excitement for weeks!

July 2005, July 2007

Cape Cod July 2007

As I bid upstate New York adieu and trek across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I've compiled some mixed CD's to keep me company. Here are my personal summer soundtracks for this year:

"Cruise Control"

1. Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love - Coldplay
2. Sacred Vision - Iron and Wine
3. I Became Awake - Great Lake Swimmers
4. Secret Heart - Feist
5. Sunny Road - Emiliana Torrini
6. White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
7. Friday I'm In Love - The Cure
8. Flint (For The Unemployed And Underpaid) - Sufjan Stevens
9. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
10. Luv - Travis
11. Go Ahead - Rilo Kiley
12. Firecracker - Ryan Adams
13. Our Swords - Band of Horses
14. My Slumbering Heart - Rilo Kiley
15. Whither, I'm A Flower - Whiskeytown
16. The Pilgriming Vine - Basia Bulat
17. Kingdom of the Animals - Iron and Wine
18. Bowl of Oranges - Bright Eyes

"80's Conglomeration"

1. Just What I Needed - The Cars
2. Take On Me - a-Ha
3. I Melt With You - Modern English
4. Lovesong - The Cure
5. Sunglasses At Night - Corey Hart
6. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
7. Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
   
8. I Love Rock 'N Roll - Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
   
9. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
10. The Promise - When In Rome
11. I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
    
12. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) - Phil Collins
13. The Longest Time - Billy Joel
14. With or Without You - U2

Have a great week! :)

Single lens reflex

Below are a few photos I took this past weekend with my manual focus 35mm Nikon FM10 SLR camera. It's a pretty basic camera and since I hardly qualify as a photographer, I'm pleased with the results it yields. With this particular roll of film (Kodak Professional BW 400, in case you were wondering), I added both a Vivitar Soft II 52mm lens and a Vivitar 52mm Cross Screen VI lens.

Outdoor Summer Reading

My town library held their annual book & bake sale this past Saturday and these are the small treasures I picked up. $0.50 for paperbacks, $1.00 for hardcovers -- can't go wrong at those prices! I have such a soft spot for paperbacks from the 1950s - 1970s with their illustrated covers and now-yellowed, delicate pages. I've also been known to collect more than one copy of a title simply for its cover design. Speaking of book covers, while at the book sale my mother picked up a beautiful copy of Little Women for me before I arrived. This particular edition was printed in 1947 and its pages are interspersed with charming colored illustrations.



What have you been reading lately?

And since I'm on the topic of books, I find this the perfect opportunity to pass along a blog award the kind and lovely Diana at our.city.lights gave me a while back. The great reads I would like to award are Much Love and Tis Serendipity!


I am terribly backlogged on sharing awards. I was awarded with the following by Much Love a few days ago and made the promise to pass it along quickly! Here's some ♥blog lovin♥ for On Dressing Up and Little Bird!

Summer breeze

Sometimes I wonder if there isn't a sound more beautiful than the wind rustling high above in the tree tops...

Dress: H&M, Cardigan: Urban Outfitters, Bangle: Target, Shoes: H&M

Lavender and Lupin

Shirt: Old Navy (little girls' dept.), Pants: Gap, Shoes: Target

I relaxed after work this evening by spending some time in my mother's garden. We have a delightful array of wildflowers, lavender, tomatoes, dill, parsley, basil, green beans, and zucchini, among other things. It felt more springlike than summer, but at least it wasn't raining (which has been the norm here lately).

"Every time you wake up and ask yourself, 'What good things am I going to do today?', remember that when the sun goes down at sunset, it will take a part of your life with it." -Indian Proverb

Buffalo nickel

Dress: Delia's, Locket: gift, Sunnies: Macy's, Vintage belt: thrifted, Moccasins: Minnetonka

I was an avid coin collector from roughly age 10 -13. I delighted in finding new coins to add to my collection and would proudly show them off to anyone who would lend me their eyes and ears (most often my grandfather). Family and friends were often generous in giving me some that were left over from traveling. My favorite finds, however, were those that somehow snuck into the circulation of US currency. Living within a few hours' drive of Canada, it is fairly common to find Canadian coins in your spare change. Happening upon pieces from The Bahamas and Bermuda always engaged my imagination by producing images of breathtaking beaches, soft sand, and colorful seashells.

I've decided to share my favorites from my North American collection. The idea was sparked this past weekend when I encountered one of the recently reissued buffalo nickels. If you're interested in checking out the details of the following coins, click to enlarge the photos.

1926/8(?) United States Buffalo Nickel

1901 United States Indian head Penny
(my grandfather gave me this one)

1945 United States Mercury Dime

1885 Canadian dime