Swan Lake... By Mail...

As much as I love shopping... and clothes... I must admit, I have never been too enamored of warm weather fashion...  With that said, it's obviously been a rather lackluster past few months...

Anthropologie to the rescue... this morning they delivered an enticing email highlighting their Fall fashions and this suede bomber jacket... and it's bye bye beach wear.

Of course, I bypass the jacket completely... and instead fixate on the funky little tutu skirt they paired it with... I see it with a sweet little black sweater... black opaque tights... black classic patent pumps... and me!

Townies and Tourists...

/art/...the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination,  Redemption!!  I admit I may have been (muddled speak for "was") a day late and a dollar short when it came to advance notice of the Old West End Festival this year... but please note that I am a whole SIX days early on my reminder for the always amazing Ann Arbor Street Art Fair 2015 (thank you... thank you heavenly metal for my heads up email!)

It's everything you would expect from an art fair... and more...

it's an original, baby! A2 Art Fair 2015

Summertime and the Livin' Is Easy...

I meant to post about the festival earlier as a save the date... but, as oftentimes happens, life got in the way of my best intentions.  So, at this point, we're either way out on a commitment to your 2016 calendar... or just embarking on a good read... take it as you will... 

The Old West End Festival is an amazingly fabulous annual outdoor weekend party... typically held the first weekend in June it encompasses all that is wonderful... shopping... live music... art... food... mansion tours... parades... lemonade stands.  They have it all covered... and then some.  Think Mardi Gras - Midwest.  One year, I dragged home a chifferobe... the next year, just a bag of praline pecans. I came across an article that not only gives a nice festival overview, but includes a few other local gems as well... bonus!   detroitdvotion.com

The One(s) That Got Away...

My brother is flying in next weekend... Yay!  He rented a charter and he and my other brother are going out on the lake to fish… Yay!  The bait shop will clean and fillet their catch… Yay!  I will fry them up… Ya.. uh… hmmm…  Although I will admit to being a rather good cook… along with the ability to summon up some distant recollections of the kitchen at the cottage, the great aunts and some cast iron skillets filled with oil and perch… as well as extensive experience ordering seafood in restaurants… I don't mind admitting that I am (more than) a little nervous about this fish fry business. I've already made the mistake in preliminary sibling fish discussions of uttering the word tempura. My brother was quick to inform me that tempura is reserved for cod.  I started humming the theme song to Gilligan's Island.  In the end, I am hoping for this…

but with a tried and true back-up plan...

Excuse me now, while I go hit the (cook)books...

One Scoop or Two?

It's that perfect time of year to scoop up some fruit-filled goodness... that you can make yourself!  Although I share a lifelong passion with my Dad for butter pecan ice cream... this looks awfully tempting... and I would consider it a serving of fruit... because I have become very liberal in my food groups interpretation... and you can too.

get the surprisingly easy recipe here at the view from great island 

Chewy vs. Crunchy...

The art of the cookie... scientifically speaking...

the science behind the cookie

...in this instance, it really pays to do your homework.

Splendid Times at the Five and Dime...

Diners, soda shops and five and dimes...  Most were just a bit before my time... although I am fortunate to be ancient enough to have some firsthand experience with the nearly-extinct five and dime.  My Gram first introduced me to the wonders of a store that offered sewing notions alongside a freshly-grilled cheese sandwich and frosty malted milk.  Years later, when I began working downtown, it offered replacements for forgotten umbrellas and last minute birthday cards... and currently, just the memories... 

but oh... what memories.