Why Not . . . Live a Long, Healthy Life? Part Trois

As we strive to be as healthy as we can be, there may be some necessary tasks that we tend to that we don’t necessarily look forward to partaking in (doctor exams, cleaning the home, etc), but I would argue that such tasks are few compared to the quite enjoyable ones I would like to share today.

Once we find peace with the path we’ve chosen to live, the tranquility we welcome into our lives is priceless. And as we live to enjoy each and every day no matter how simple or routine it may seem, by incorporating the last five tips into our approach, our purpose driven lives become more joyful and fulfilling than we might have ever imagined.

11. Manage Stress Effectively

In order to live a life of continual growth, we must always choose to challenge ourselves. And it is in choosing to challenge ourselves that we welcome the opportunity for growth. However, along with the growth comes frustration, thus stress. Since we already know that stress will occur occasionally, we must have a plan to deal with it constructively so that it doesn’t become debilitating.

For example, schedule regular “me time” in which you respect your need to be alone or do as you please – even if it is for thirty minutes. Schedule a monthly or seasonal spa treatment such as a facial, massage or pedicure. When you carve out time to be pampered, you demand of yourself to slow down and not jump to the next responsibility on your list. In these moments allow yourself to breath, turn your mind off and let go of your worries for the moment.

12. Show Gratitude

Take the time each day to write in your journal about what went well. Remaining conscious of all that is going as expected even on days when it seems nothings is progressing as it should, sheds a bit of perspective on what should and shouldn’t be made into such a big deal.

13. Befriend Multiple Generations

I have always been curious to learn from those who are older than me. Whether it is to learn from their mistakes or to soak up their knowledge, generations that came before us can offer a wealth of information and provide us with even more reason to be appreciative. The same too can be said for the generations that have followed us. My students’ insights and observations regularly enlighten me on new ideas as well as help me appreciate how far I have come.

14. Be a life long learner

Continue to read, explore and learn new skills. It will keep your mind agile and help stave off dementia. While it can be tempting to continue in the same safe routine, our mind’s muscles will slowly atrophy if this path is chosen, and to waste something that is so utterly amazing in all that it can do would be shame. As much as we should keep our bodies agile, we should too keep our minds just as nimble.

15. Get to know and trust yourself

Getting to know ourselves is a continual process because we too are continually growing and improving if we proceed through life correctly. And it is when we become in tune with what makes us smile spontaneously, feel absolutely comfortable and secure, as well as feel confident and self-assured that we can respect ourselves enough to say no to what doesn’t mesh with our values, put down boundaries to ensure those who don’t respect us can choose another victim and ultimately open ourselves up to take a chance on genuine connections with others worthy of our trust.

Since life is wonderfully unpredictable, why not put the odds in our favor so that the time we do have is most enjoyable and very memorable for ourselves and those we’ve chosen to spend our time with. Cheers to an amazing simply luxurious life!

~To view the previous two parts in the series, click here for part two, click here for part one.

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:

~Making Connections

~11 Things You Must Do To Create the Life of Your Dreams

~To Think For Yourself

 

Image: (1) source

This & That: No. 59

A few summer fashion finds, my new favorite herb, a beautiful detail at a wonderful price and a bit of inspiration from a name you might recognize . . .

~Blog Post to Read

1. Food Sampling Etiquette from Classy & Fabulous

Karla M. Davis, the founder of the lifestyle blog Classy & Fabulous continues to be a woman with an abundance of ideas on how to be the classy and fabulous woman so many of us aspire to be. With the many wine and food pairing that tempt my palette, I thought I’d take a look at her tips on food sampling etiquette, and after reading, all the while nodding my head in agreement, I wanted to share. 

~Details

2. Diamond Spider Brooch from Humble Chic

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright has famously used her choice of brooches to express her ideas regarding foreign policy. In fact, in her book Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box, she documents many of her fashion choices dependent upon who she would be meeting with.
Needless to say, what we choose to wear can be very telling. So when I happened upon this diamond spider brooch (only $38!), I thought what a unique and quite intriguing item to wear. Either to secure a scarf, gather a draped neckline or place on a blouse or jacket, the finishing touches are in the details.

~Garden

3. Lemon Verbena herb

I have been devouring the many farmers’ markets in my area and adding new and curious herbs to my herb garden. Last weekend while watching P. Allen Smith’s PBS show, he showed viewers how to make a simple lemon verbena infused honey. To be used in tea, drizzled over cheese or warm scones, I am all the more enticed to grow this fragrant herb.


~Shopping

4. Giambattista Valli leopard ankle pant

Leopard is a classic option, and Giambattista Valli’s silk/wool blend ankle pants are reduced 80% at Barney’s Warehouse. A beautiful pant for the evening when a dress just isn’t calling your name, pair with black heels, a simple black blouse and you will certainly impress.

5. Jane Stripe maxi dress

I can’t help but enjoy the fashion pleasures of summer as maxi dresses are perfect for both comfort and style. This affordable nautical maxi paired with a classic denim jacket, sandals, sunnies and a straw tote is simple and a wonderful choice for travel or strolling.

6. Nanette Lepore striking black and white shorts

No longer are denim and khaki the only options for shorts. From prints to stripes, shorts can make just as much of a fashion statement as an expertly chosen pair of shoes. Nanette Lepore’s black and white striped shorts would be fun to pair with a blouse in a solid color - perhaps with this silk blouse or this short sleeve option?

~Commencement Address to Watch

~Kerry Washington at George Washington University

As the graduation season rolls around each year, I become a commencement address junkie. Always looking for inspiration, I have found that there are always a select few that become worthy of being repeated year after year. Speaking this past weekend at her alma mater George Washington University, actress Kerry Washington’s commencement address is one that may just jump into this category.

A Weekend of Work & Play

I must admit, I revel in weekends where my schedule is my own and I can putz around my home.

This past weekend was just such an opportunity, and it found me doing a bit of playing, working and eating. Have a look . . .

With time to seek out the perfect plants for the pots on my porch, I stopped by My Grandmother’s Garden just outside of Walla Walla and discovered a treasure trove of flowers and plants. Of course, my boys had to say hello to the resident black lab. It was a friendly hello, and then we were off to the our next destination (more on the project involving paint below).

After hitting the local farmers’ market, I had to stop into my favorite patisserie – Colville St. Patisserie to pick up a hot chocolate to go. Their decadent desserts certainly caught my attention.

With chardonnay from Waterbrook, sautéed Mushroom Bruschetta was the simple appetizer I chose to finish the pairing (see recipe below)~

And for dinner, with fresh from the market asparagus, primavera risotto sounded like an irresistible choice. Click here for the recipe.

Whoever said you have to make the entire meal from scratch? The simply luxurious approach is to leave the baking up to the experts, and this Lemon Curd Coconut tart from the Walla Walla Bread Company was the perfect ending to a wonderful evening of dining.

And the project for the weekend was to paint my previously green wooden Adirondack chairs white. Upon attempting to begin the project on Saturday, I was thwarted by a brief rain smattering and blustery wind, but with Sunday’s ideal temperate weather, the job was finally completed.

With a small yard for the dogs to chase their ball, I love sitting in these chairs during the summer evenings and letting Oscar (above) and Norman play while simply relaxing . . . sometimes with a book, sometimes with a glass of wine and sometimes catching up with a good friend.

All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing and productive weekend. I would love to hear how your weekend went. What simply luxurious activities do you delight in when you have the weekend to do as you please?

 

RECIPE

Sautéed Mushroom Bruschetta

Ingredients:

• 1-2 cups sliced mushrooms of choice
• julienned fresh basil
• fresh baguette
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to broil. Slice the baguette on the bias in 3/4 inch slices. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Drizzle each slice with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil).
2. While waiting for the oven to preheat, using a saute pan, melt a 1/4 cup of butter and place the sliced mushrooms in the pan on medium heat. Saute mushrooms for approximately 5 minutes. Upon removing the pan from the heat, sprinkle basil on the mushrooms and toss.
3. Place bread in the oven for 2-4 minutes – watch closely as you are just wanting to lightly toast the bread.
4. Using a spoon or spatula, place 2-4 mushrooms on each slice of break. Sprinkle with parmesan if you’d like and enjoy!

Images: (1) source, all other images from Simply Luxurious’ Instagram

20 Ways to be Prepared for Opportunity

“Opportunity favors the prepared.” – Madeline Levine in The New York Times

Life has a keen sense of humor, and it is all the more enjoyable when we are laughing with it. What I mean to say is that we have a choice every single day regarding how we will approach the 24 hours we are given. We can either choose to trek through life as though it is a burden full of drudgery and monotony or we can realize that life is as grand as we believe it to be.

We are the makers of the destiny we seek. As a young adult it is easier to be full of hope and ambition as the world seems full of possibilities, but as we get older, some may have us believe that we need to settle and resign ourselves to the reality that life is what the world tells us it “should” be.

Perhaps they mention one is too old . . . simply look to Betty White as proof they have no clue what one is capable of in their golden years. Or perhaps they say one’s schooling is lacking . . . simply look to Mark Twain who had no more than a 5th grade education to disprove this washed up theory. If whatever they are saying doesn’t ring true for you, then stop listening and follow your internal direction.  Such cynicism has never accomplished anything, so dismiss the Scrooges of the world and continue to look for the many opportunities that are wishing and waiting to be discovered. Because trust me, they are out there, no matter what your age.

Today’s quote is simple, but painstakingly true. Opportunities do not just plop out of thin air when we aren’t looking. The good news for those of us who are willing to work hard and consistently is that we must be prepared for the opportunity when we see it so that we can pounce.

While the opportunities we continue to gather up may seem small, it is often these small opportunities capitalized upon again and again that lead to the grand break we are looking for. Very rarely does a record breaking diamond become unearthed on the first try, but rather after many other small treasures have been discovered along the way.

Here are a few things that you can do right now and continue to do each day to aid in your preparation to be able to seize on the opportunities you wish to find.

1. Mind your money manners, but know when to take risks. When you have control of your finances, you can take risks knowing that you have the savings or income to weather the storm should your risk fail.

2. For your health’s sake, eat well. An added benefit is that you’ll look great too. Who knows when the opportunities will be ready for you to find them. It could be when you’re twenty or it could be when you’re nearing middle age and beyond. Remain healthy so that no matter when it arrives, you can enjoy it to the fullest.

3. Make the right type of mistakes – made while being courageous and ambitious, rather than defensive, lazy or ignorant. Mistakes will happen to us all, but make them while striving forward toward something new or challenging, rather than sitting around doing nothing afraid of everything.

4. Look for opportunities, seek them out. Open your eyes. Say yes. Do something new. Ask why. Never stop learning.

5. Be kind and helpful. Helping others out when you can simply because you can and not to gain anything in return creates an environment of support and positive rapport. By creating an environment that is welcoming and uplifting, more of that energy is created. Pay forward what you wish to see more of, even if you don’t see a lot of it at the present moment.

6. Strengthen your self-discipline muscle. Stop spending frivolously. Put down that second helping. Stop engaging with people who are not good for you or your self-esteem.

7. Pay yourself first.  Start saving for retirement and a rainy day today. Create a monthly EFT and forget about it.

8. Wake up early. Don’t waste a minute. The early bird really does get the worm.

9. Continually strive for excellence, not perfection. Never stop learning about the world you live in. Continually try to better understand yourself, your emotions, your job, your passions, your strengths, etc. The answers will come if you keep searching.

10. Simplify and focus. You can’t do everything, but you what you choose to focus on can be done well if you let go of those things that aren’t at the top of your priority list.

11. Keep a clean home. Limit your stress, free your mind, create room for opportunities to be found.

12. Master your mind. Freedom lies in choosing your thoughts and not being a slave to anything that crosses your mind’s path.

13. Meditate.  A simple practice that builds mind control, lowers stress and builds appreciation.

14. Create specific goals. If you don’t know where you’re going or what you want, your life will never change and you’ll never know what to look for regarding opportunities.

15. Be authentic. Do not apologize for being yourself. Ignore the laughter, walk away and walk toward those and a world that is appreciative of the gifts you have to offer.

16. Be productive, create something of value. No matter what you choose to do with your day, so long as it is in alignment with your goals, being productive will inch you one step closer to the opportunities you seek.

17. Stop blaming or complaining.  Energy and time and most importantly the ability to see the opportunity is tossed aside immediately when we blame others or complain about something we don’t like or understand.

18. Stop being a follower. There’s already enough sheep in this world. Become conscious of which direction you are going and why. What type of life are you trying to lead? Are your actions and decisions today in line with the life you just described?

19. Choose to initiate rather than react. By choosing to initiate, you are taking the reins and directing life. You may not know how today’s particular scene will play out, but at least you are choosing to lead rather than to follow or be a spectator.

20. Make your own rules. If the rules aren’t working for you and the opportunities are not revealing themselves, do something different. And keep your eyes open.

“Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along.” –Hugh Allen

Today, make the decision to look at the world as a ginormous present just waiting to be opened, realized and capitalized upon. Such an attitude will take conscious effort and the mastering of your mind, but the experiences and memories that will follow will be more than worth the energy you will have expended.  Have a wonderful Monday everyone.

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

~Change Your Thoughts, Change Your World

~Create Your Own Unique Destiny

~Turning Goals into Reality

Image: (1) source

The Weekend . . .

I am currently waiting patiently for the peonies to bloom here in the Pacific Northwest. Oh, how I love the beauty of these evanescent blooms – the blushing femininity and endless layers of delicate pedals – Mother Nature is truly a gifted artist.

The middle of May has come and gone, and I can almost see the long Memorial day weekend. With students seeing summer on the horizon, and teachers too, it is this time of year that is electric and inspiring. With new opportunities, a new phase of life being bravely stepped into, spring offers so much potential.

This past week on the blog I ventured into the new social media app of Vine, shared a wonderful pleasure read I am excited for my Francophile readers to enjoy, and shared a bit of life and fashion inspiration as well. Have a look . . .

~the top post of the week . . . How to Make Your Own History

~a wonderful weekend read . . . J ’Adore Paris – Book Review

~a style inspiration extra . . . Kerry Washington - Style Inspiration

~Simply Luxurious is on Vine! . . . what is it and see my inaugural video

~Splurge & Save Outfit: No. 7 . . . peplum tops, leather jackets and simple cap top shoes

~Oscar de la Renta & The Outnet . . . discover fabulous fashion at a more affordable price

~Style Inspiration: Denim & White

~Why Not . . . Live a Long, Healthy Life? Part Deux

~This & That: No. 57 . . . my new favorite sunnies, two books for travel and finances and more

And this week’s newsletter – issue #149 – click here to read.

I want to thank you yet again for taking the time to stop by The Simply Luxurious Life. Your time in making the effort to choose to visit does not go unnoticed, and I want you to know I am very appreciative and humbled. Have a wonderful weekend indulging in a few favorite simple luxuries of your own. Until Monday, bonjour.

Images: (1) source (2) source

Oscar de la Renta & The Outnet

Oscar de la Renta has arrived at The Outnet, and while the designs may be from last year (Spring 2012), they are nonetheless chic, classic and much more affordable (items reduced 60-70%). While the only item I will be shipping to my closet will be a silk-twill scarf, I highly recommend perusing all 137 items (click here). After all, you never know when Oscar may be able to make his home in your closet. It may be sooner than you think.

Here are a few of items that caught my eye:

1. Feathered silk-chiffon gown~

2. Knitted silk skirt~

3. Draped wool-blend dress (fuchsia)~

4. Pointelle-detailed cashmere-blend scarf (pink)~

5. Wool blend skirt (pink)~

6. cotton-twill silk-blend brocade dress (yellow)~

7. Palm-print silk dress~

8. Gardenita suede pumps~

9. Geometric print silk-faille dress~

10. Printed halter-neck swimsuit~

11. Printed silk-twill scarf~

12. Metallic raffia-effect sandals~

Images: 2 & 3 from style.com

Splurge & Save Outfit: No. 7

These week’s Splurge & Save Outfit was inspired by today’s Style Inspiration post. Blending white and denim during the spring season and into the summer is always something I reach for. And with peplum tops seemingly everywhere in bargain and high end boutiques, why not bring this simple feminine touch to a very classic and chic outfit?

Whether you prefer flats or sturdy pumps, this look is fresh, simple and perfect for errands, traveling or catching a matinee this weekend with a good friend.

~SPLURGE~

~Torn by Ronny Kobo Judy peplum top~

~Coach legacy Candace medium carryall~

~J.Brand 811 mid-rise skinny jeans in karma~

~J.Crew Etta cap toe leather pumps~

~Trouve perforated leather bomber~

 

~SAVE~

~ASOS white peplum top with half sleeve~

~Michael Kors Jet Set Large tote black~

~JAG jeans ‘new Jane’ slim stretch jeans~

~Calvin Klein Caela flats~

~Bop Basics – The Fiance blazer~

~SHOP THESE OUTFITS:

 

Style Inspiration: Denim & White

One of the simplest, yet most elegant and chic combinations to throw together when spring arrives is denim and white. Just last week I pulled out my white cropped pants and dismissed the white Memorial day myth (it was in the 90s outside and besides, the only rules to follow are those that work for your signature style).

With a neutral foundation, any beautiful print, bright color, classic trench or scarf will shine when paired with white denim. Denim in general is one of my favorite go-to options. Worn with beautiful Salvatore Ferragamo classic flats as Lauren Santo Domingo demonstrates above or playful pumps reveals the versatility that this year round favorite embodies.

Simply Luxurious is on Vine!

It took me two years to finally create a Facebook account for The Simply Luxurious Life, so when Twitter offered the new social networking video app Vine this past January, I was a bit hesitant. However, I couldn’t help but be quite curious. A six second video? Was it worth it? Would readers want to see small snippets of the world through my eyes?

Well, I’m about to find out. Just this week, I signed up and posted my first video, Purple Tranquility (view below) which reveals a glimpse of my herb garden, my new foray with vegetables – a pot of lettuce - and a little something special at the end. I do hope you enjoy yet another way to enjoy a few more simply luxurious moments.

~Follow via Twitter (@simplyluxurious) or via the free Vine app for smart phones (click here to download). And if you’re a newsletter subscriber (sign-up here), each week the newsletter will include the most recent videos posted.

Kerry Washington – Style Inspiration

With Scandal’s season finale tomorrow night, I thought I’d take the liberty of perusing through the many chic style moments Kerry Washington has had over the past few years. While very rarely engaging in a fashion faux pas, Washington impressively dons trends with the skill of a seasoned veteran, which is easy to forget as she appears fresh, young and timeless all at once. At age 36 and standing 5’4”, Washington commands the screen with each scene she shares with actor Tony Goldwyn and continues to keep her audiences at the edge of their seats each Thursday night.

With her stylist Erin Walsh, Washington has reminded us of her chameleon-like ability to expertly wear bold prints, regal gowns, feminine dresses and bright colors. However, I must say that I adore her character Olivia Pope’s neutral palette, feminine aesthetic and predilection for opera-length gloves.

While I usually DVR each episode and watch it on the weekend, I might just this once have to watch it with everyone else. Will you be watching? And also, what do you think of her style?

Why Not . . . Live a Long, Healthy Life? Part Deux

With Angelina Jolie’s recent disclosure to the New York Times that she decided to undergo a preventative double mastectomy due to her discovery of the uncommon defective version of a gene called BRCA1, it’s an astounding and impressive example of someone taking control of their ability to live as long and as healthy as possible based on their singular circumstances.

Last week the Why Not . . . Live a Long, Healthy Life? series began with inspiration from David Plasker’s book The 100 Year Lifestyle, and it continues this week with additional information and ideas on how to make choices today that will allow you to live an even more fulfilling and rewarding life, beginning with #6 which Angelina Jolie’s decision beautifully exemplifies. Let’s get going.

6. Become proactive with your health

Jolie’s decision may seem drastic to those who haven’t witnessed an immediate family member be stolen far too soon due to the grips of cancer similar to Angelina (her mother died from breast cancer at age 56), but when we become aware of our past, we can look fear in the face a little bit easier because we can grab hold of the tools that can best help us navigate what may lie ahead.

Instead of having to make an appointment with the doctor due to ill health or being rushed to the emergency room, why not schedule preventative annual check-ups so that any abnormality can be caught early and more easily dealt with (click here to view a list of scheduled appointments every woman should make throughout her life). 

7. Schedule Play-Time, but not all of the time

As schedules and responsibilities begin to grow, the simple fact that there will only always be 24 hours in a day oddly eludes us until we realize we have yet to enjoy a weekend with nothing to do in months. Scheduling time to enjoy yourself is a must when it comes to living a healthy life. This is not to say hard work and dedication isn’t necessary, but if you’re like me, I can become so focused on something that I forget how much time has passed and how exhausted my body and mind have become.

One of the greatest benefits of play-time is the break it gives the mind and the restorative opportunity it gives the body. Respect your body, value quality productivity more than simply being busy and I can guarantee, based on my own experience, that life will be more fulfilling and enjoyable.

8. Spend time in nature

Some are fortunate to have a running creek, a scenic mountain or acres of pasture right out their back door, but most are not. It’s hard to explain to someone the power and therapeutic ability of nature until they themselves have had the opportunity to walk down a grassy lane listening to the morning birds chirp their simple tunes or watch pets frolic free from leashes in wide open meadows first-hand.

Even if you live in the city or are miles from open space, making time to visit a local park or take a tour through the magnificent Japanese or Chinese gardens in your area can take you out of your head for awhile and help to appreciate the amazing gift of Mother Nature. By simply gaining a bit of time to breath slowly and deeply, we are often reminded of what it is we most value in our lives and let go of unnecessary worries.

9. Exercise Regularly, but not excessively

As I’ve mentioned a couple of times on the blog (here and here), my experience with intense exercising has helped me to realize that it can be enjoyable, so long as it is consistent. Whether you enjoy walking or running, hiking or dancing, choose to incorporate a regular routine of exercise into your life. Make it as mandatory as eating and breathing, and your body will thank you as it will be better able to care for you for years to come.

10. Create Ideal Home & Work Environments

What surrounds us affects us, and to not understand this simple truth is to let go mindlessly of something we have absolute control over. Much like the people we spend our waking hours with, so too is our work and home environment a determining factor of our moods, creativity and energy levels. Whether it’s reducing the clutter throughout our home or choosing to find a way to allow more light into your work space, these choices can help reduce unnecessary stress, save time and brighten our day. Click here for tips on how to simplify and reduce clutter, click here to discover simple ways to turn a hum-drum workday into a luxurious occasion and click here for simple, easy tips on how to clean your home.

Stop by next week for the final part in the series of creating a long and healthy life. (Click here to view part one.)

Image: (1) source

J’Adore Paris – Book Review

The ideal pairing: an au courant city guide of Paris and an enjoyable story of a charming and delightful protagonist that readers came to know in Isabelle LaFleche’s last best-selling novel J’Adore New York.

In her most recent novel (released today), LaFleche’s J'adore Paris involves the determined, independent and savvy Catherine Lambert who is the chic Parisian lawyer that successfully navigated the demands and all-business life in New York City in J’Adore New York. Finding herself relocating back to Paris to work for Christian Dior as an intellectual property director, she embarks on a risky operation to undercover counterfeit fashion goods.  LaFleche’s detailed imagery of Dior’s collections that many readers will remember from the runways along with her  locale descriptions, prompted me to highlight many details of places I am now even more curious to visit.

With a mastery of the history behind the famed fashion house and a reputable understanding of the current controversy in the garment industry involving the black market, LaFleche’s expertise strengthens the story-line allowing her readers to become informed as they are simultaneously being entertained.

With Lambert’s colleague Rikash that will leave readers in stitches, a young love that is simple, sweet and not unnecessarily messy and wardrobe details that perhaps may inspire your next trip to the closet, J'adore Paris is a triumphant encore and a wonderful next read for your weekend getaway.

J'adore Paris
342 pages
by Isabella LaFleche
Released – May 14, 2013

This & That: No. 58

My new favorite sunglasses, a fashion lover’s travel guide to Paris, a must-plant vegetable to add to your garden and more . . .

~Article to Read

1. How Not to Hate Dating – Atlantic Monthly

Chiara Atik shares an excerpt from her book Modern Dating: A Field Guide on Atlantic Monthly’s website in which she reveals the importance of letting go and of enjoying the life you are living currently. She shares that while it can be a slow process, the cliché of “It always happens when you aren’t looking” holds water – meaning, when you immerse yourself in the life you love, allow yourself to become genuinely happy, you welcome to you those with similar interests and are able to engage in a manner that is far more engaging and attractive. Certainly something to consider.

~Book

2. Fashion Insider’s Guide to Paris by Carole Sabas

French Vogue correspondent Carole Sabas is a native Parisian currently living in New York City. And as you might imagine, many of her friends and colleagues would look to her for recommendations about where to shop, sleep, eat and visit when making travel plans to her hometown. Due to the abundance of inquires, she created a small book and gave it to her friends for free outlining exactly what they had requested.

Well now (just released last week), thankfully, she is sharing her insights with anyone who is curious about the city that so many Francophiles dream of visiting, and you can have her guidebook too - A Fashion Insider’s Guide to Paris. (Not looking to travel to Paris anytime soon, but are curious about New York City? She has a Fashion Insider’s Guide to New York as well.)

3. Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton

Last summer, Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton shared an excerpt of their upcoming book Happy Money in the New York Times titled “Don’t Indulge, Be Happy”. The article asserts, based on their research that the average annual income at which happiness ceasing to grow is $75,000. With concrete evidence, they reveal the science behind the power of money and the fallacies we place on money unnecessarily. Being released today, I look forward to reading the entire book to better grasp how to take more command of money and find the balance of a healthy income and a quality way of life.

~Garden

4. Heirloom Tomatoes

With a tiny garden plot for vegetables, one of the few items I include each year are tomatoes. Last weekend, I found myself at Walla Walla’s farmers’ market and discovered a wonderful selection of heirloom tomatoes. Needless to say, I picked up a few of them this past weekend and can’t wait for them to produce the magic that only an heirloom tomato provides. Ideal in a caprese salad or on bruschetta, for only a few dollars, if you are able, pick up a plant or two the next time you stop by your local farmers’ market or nursery and your summer will be even more delicious.

~Shopping

5. Chloé square-frame black sunglasses

I have been looking for a quality pair of black over-sized sunglasses for three years now. Not wanting to break the bank (would love a pair of Tom Ford’s, but can’t bring myself to pay the price), I found a pair on The Outnet from Chloe for $110. Over-sized, but not excessively so, these frames are a classic shape, exude quality and exceeded my expectations upon arrival. With no big gaudy labels, these square-frame shades will complement nearly every face (click here to discover the perfect sunglasses for your face).

6. Tibi Family and Friend Event (25% off regularly priced items)

With simple, modern clothing, Tibi designs are items that pair well with a variety of pieces you already have in your closet. And the good news is that beginning yesterday and running through Friday, May 17th, all regularly priced merchandise is reduced 25% with promo code FRIENDS25 (an extra 10% off current markdowns). Here are a few items that caught my eye – this dress, this peplum top, this stripe sheath dress, and this classic black shift dress.