Summer fades but its memory burns bright

Another summer gone by… Fall doesn’t officially start for a few more weeks, but in America summer feels like it ends September 1st , around the start of the new school year. I mourn the end of summer more than any other season perhaps because summer seems so special in this climate of longer winters and a shorter growing period. It is a limited time of enchantment filled with fireflies and fireworks, freckles and sundresses, outdoor concerts and sandals, fresh tomatoes and ice cream, the smell of cut grass and the ocean breeze...

This summer has been more extraordinary to me than any before it since the birth of my daughter, Fiona Marie, on May 10th. This summer was spent learning how to be a mother and admiring my beautiful daughter. Studying her cries and her smiles, her laughs and her smells. Oh, her intoxicating baby scent! This summer I learned how to wrap a baby, use a car seat, breastfeed. I spent hours every day strolling around Riverside Park and the Upper West Side. I am learning how to trust my instincts and make decisions as a mother. I grow more in love with her every day. Each day Patrick and I think it doesn’t get any better, and then it does. It’s so hard to believe. Such a gift this summer has been.

West Elm Wall Art Inspiration

When I saw this fabulous new collection of art prints offered through West Elm in collaboration with 20x200 I was inspired to create my own art for our apartment with a similar theme of colors and geometric patterns. It will be a fun challenge to use different types of media to achieve a related look. If it is any good I will post the results on Green Shoots and Sparks. I have been challenging myself to make some art for our walls and this has given me the motivation to start creating. However, it is definitely tempting to just purchase these prints from West Elm. They are super affordable, fabulous looking and come already framed. You really can’t go wrong! …but I love a good art project!

Hurricane Irene

Most of the East Coast is bracing for Hurricane Irene, waiting to see when, where and how hard the hurricane will hit. Some of my friends who were coming to New York City for the weekend are reconsidering their plans. Especially in light of the news that the city is now preparing to shut down the transit system over the weekend, which will make it tough to get around. I normally would not consider preparing since we live in the middle of Manhattan, and how unlikely it is that we would need emergency food and water, but now that we have a child I am definitely more mindful of preparing for emergency situations. I was going to go grocery shopping tomorrow regardless, but will now make sure I have a few meals planned for us to eat in case we lose power. And we are considering filling up our water jug and water bottles on Saturday if the storm looks like it will be severe in our area. I’m sure these preparations will prove unnecessary but it certainly won’t hurt us.

On a less serious note, we are also preparing for a Hurricane Party with some friends nearby since we will be stuck inside for at least a day. So I will also be buying some wine and stocking up on ingredients to make homemade cookies. We are looking to find a series of movies or TV to watch over the course of the day too… Lord of the Rings and Star Wars are out (we have seen them too many times). Any suggestions?

All this hurricane anticipation in a week where much of the East Coast was also affected by an Earthquake! This is definitely an extraordinary week of sorts.

(wrote this last Thursday, going to have to get better at posting!)

Put that zucchini to use!

Does your garden or CSA have you buried under the this ubiquitous summer squash? Angela at Oh She Glows offers a great way to put your zucchini to good use! I made her SUPER YUMMY zucchini bread oatmeal this week and it satisfied me in multiple ways. Another method of using our CSA summer squash in a super tasty recipe - check! Veggies in the morning - check! A new and fun way to change up my morning oatmeal - check! I actually used some of our yellow CSA summer squash instead of zucchini since I had used the zucchini earlier in the week, and it tasted great! I think I will use a bit less brown sugar next time since it was a tad too sweet for me, but overall sooooo good and creative!

New York City, as described by E.B. White

I adore this description of New York City by E.B. White. It seems as true today as it was 60 years ago.

from "Here is New York"(1948)
by E. B. White
There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born there, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size, its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter--the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something. Of these trembling cities the greatest is the last--the city of final destination, the city that is a goal. It is this third city that accounts for New York’s high strung disposition, its poetical deportment, its dedication to the arts, and its incomparable achievements. Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness, natives give it solidity and continuity, but the settlers give it passion. And whether it is a farmer arriving from a small town in Mississippi to escape the indignity of being observed by her neighbors, or a boy arriving from the Corn Belt with a manuscript in his suitcase and a pain in his heart, it makes no difference: each embraces New York with the intense excitement of first love, each absorbs New York with the fresh yes of an adventurer, each generates
heat and light to dwarf the Consolidated Edison Company. . . .

What color are you?

I found this fun 'Color' Career Test on CareerPath.com. All you have to do is answer a series of questions about your color preferences, and it gives you a list of occupations and attributes. I have to admit, I was skeptical about this, but the results seem to be in line with not only how I view myself, but also with the results of more traditional language based career tests that I have taken. Does it work for you?

My Profile:
Best Occupational Category
You're a CREATOR
Keywords

Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive,
and Emotional

These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and
have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working
independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly
learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and
writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement
creative ideas.

CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer,
Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist,
Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art
Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect,
Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor,
Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

CREATOR WORKPLACES
Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and
aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow
self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and
interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert
halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance
schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums,
libraries, and galleries.

Inspired by… Nathan Turner

There is a great profile of Nathan Turner and his Los Angeles shop in Introspective Magazine on 1stdibs.com.

His interiors are composed of a fabulous mix of styles that give you a lot to look at and mull over, without appearing cluttered or fussy. His shop reflects his fantastic style. He is also the designer of the actress Amanda Peet’s lovely home in the Los Angeles area, which was featured in Domino Magazine before it shuttered last year. I love the homey, bohemian, but still sophisticated style of her home. I have posted a few pics here.