Maybe I’m the last to discover spoon rings (my friends seem to have seen them many times before!), but I thought they were such unique pieces to stumble upon, especially since I found this gorgeous ring at an apple orchard gift shop. For $10, I found a ring I find myself wearing almost everyday. Not a bad find!
Last week, The Sartorialist posted a contest that challenged readers to write a 200 words or fewer story inspired by three of The Sartorialist’s images. Winners recived access to a private party at Danziger Gallery in New York, a hotel stay, and a free bag.(original post here) Not a bad deal! Which is why I convinced my sister, a writer, to submit to the contest. Unfortunately she didn’t win, but I thought her stories were too good not to gain some credit. Celebrate the start of Fashion week by reading her stories, below.
This city is a trick coin. It appears two-sided, a light and a dark, but it’s all the same. She knows this, perhaps is the only one who notices. This is a snow globe of a city. Eerily bright, but underground a revolution brews. She walked into the day like one walks into a painting.Toulouse-Lautrec reds and ugly women in beautiful clothes. This city is a kaleidoscope. When it turns,the colors and the shapes collide, but does it really ever change? When she slipped into her heels as the sun rose that morning, she knew the only way tobring color into this city was through the soles of her shoes.
There is a time to mourn and a time to dance. The incense had curled up beyond the alter, past the stained glass angel with his sheathed sword and eyes upraised. A wisp of white had clung to existence, reluctant toleave this world in very much the same way she had. They danced the jitterbug.They fought over dinners of baked pasta and wine. They grew a family, in whoseears danced the words “hard work” from birth to, for one, premature death. The children were there with him this day as he watched the white smoke float upinto the church’s rafters, but he had to leave even them behind. He needed towalk alone, for the first memorable time, without her. His cap was well worn,but he donned it today day anyway. She had given it to him for their thirtieth anniversary. Then was a time, as it is even now, to dance.
To read more of Angie’s writing, check out her blog here.
*Photos from www.thesartorialist.com
I started collecting cameo jewelry about three or four years ago, just simply because I think the pieces are beautiful and intriguing. I’ve focused on collecting costume jewelry cameos (for the moment!) as they are less expensive and easy to discover in a wide variety. Oddly, I rarely wear the cameo pieces, so I’m going to have to come up with a creative way to display this collection so that I finally do it justice! Here are some of my favorites:
Wisconsin
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
From my Nanna’s Jewelry Box, Illinois
New Hampshire
Wisconsin (the newest addition that I picked up on Labor Day weekend)
Ciao!
Sarah
I discovered this unique contraption at a local antique shop, and though I first spotted it for its gorgeous exterior, was even more intrigued when I learned what was inside. The back of this pretty vintage necklace (circa 1970s, is my best guess) opens up to reveal a spot for cream perfume. There is still some old perfume left (yuck!) so I’ll have to clean it out, but I do intend to add my own fragrance. What a perfect way to freshen up in the middle of a work day or a long night out!
Even better is knowing that I got a great deal for the find too! I bought it for $10. It’s selling online for $78 on Ruby Lane.
Ciao!
Sarah
My grandma is originally from Wisconsin, so when her 80th birthday rolled around, I took advantage of living in WI and crafted a quirky gift that would hopefully remind her of childhood in some small way.
I recycled a box, covered it carefully in wrapping paper, decorated it appropriately and filled it with the following:
Sausage links
Bucky cheese spread
Cheese curds (duh)
Blueberry bread from the local bakery
My hope is that when at Wisconsin craving hits, my grandma will be prepared!
Ciao,
Sarah
Recently I discovered a local Vietnamese market (not as large or as wide in variety as those I am used to in Chicago, but still a lucky thing to find!) and seized the opportunity to purchase frozen dumplings. Using the ingredients in my fridge and pantry, I created this easy curry recipe. Enjoy!
For some other quick and easy recipes, check out this tuna melt sandwich and chicken parmesan
.
What you need:
1-2 cups brown rice
1 box tofu
Handful of spinach leaves
Cumin powder
Curry powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
Soy sauce
1-2 eggs
1/2 a large onion
Half a large bag of frozen dumplings
Half a lemon
1/2 cup milk or half and half, coconut milk can be used as substitute
Olive oil or vegetable oil
Prep (5 minutes to prepare, 20 minutes to cook):
*This recipe serves two.
First, prepare the rice according to the package (this will take the longest to cook and should be started first, as a result. For an even quicker dinner, use instant rice).
Secondly, put oil at the bottom of a wide non-stick sauce pan. Cook up the dumplings until they begin to brown. Set the dumplings aside and covered for later. Then, fry or scramble the eggs in the same pan. Leave in eggs and add a bit more oil as well as the onion and spinach. Gently cut the tofu into chunks and place in the pan. Add spices to taste. Squeeze in lemon juice. Add milk or half and half. For a more creamier sauce, add more liquid. Let simmer for a few minutes until tofu is cooked. Carefully (in order to preserve the shape of the tofu) stir occasionally. Add dumplings, lower heat, and cover with lid for a minute. On two plates, add rice and top with the delicious curry tofu.
My sister studied in Austria, and as she travelled Europe, she collected espresso cups. Though they weren’t the easiest things to take back to the States (miraculously she only broke one), they do make great decoration pieces in our apartment. Here are a few of my favorites.
Ciao!
Sarah
Salzburg, Austria
London, England
Florence, Italy
Munich, Germany
Nice, France; Lake Forest, Illinois; Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Florence, Italy
My aunt and uncle were kind enough to provide a whole bunch of used furniture for my new apartment. Most of it fit well into the place, but this piece below was a little trickier. We didn’t have enough space in the living room and certainly not in our tiny kitchen. As a result, it ended up as shelving in the garage. I also happened to be missing a dresser and considered thrifting around for one until I realized that this piece could be the perfect dresser. I painted it a mauve-lavendar and bought cloth containers to act as drawers. The result is a versatile “open” dresser that matches my intended room decor and cost me far less than anything else I was considering to buy.
Before
After
Total cost of this project?
Shelving unit: Free
Paint: $12
Total Cost: $12
Ciao!
Sarah
gibbsongirl.com 