10/19/12

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Friday Favorites

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Happy Friday to you all! Wow, this is maybe the latest ever that I've posted my Friday Favorites. It was a busy day...had to ship a bunch of packages, get organized, clean up the studio, and then start all over again to get stuff prepped for shipping on Monday. No matter what...if you work in an office or work for yourself...one thing is certain...you cannot escape the grind. But that's life...and I'm not necessarily complaining. Truth be told...you should be happy to even have a grind. In today's world the grind is a gift.
And in thinking of the day-in, day-out worker bee existence that we all are required to have, it got me thinking about what these Friday Favorites actually mean to me...and how I'd like for that meaning to be passed on to all of you guys. Well, for starters, they indicate the end of the work week for most of us...and that in itself is a reason to rejoice! But for me they also are illustrations of why we suffer the grind. These are the types of things that we all work for. Some of them are things that you shop for with your hard earned paycheck...but a lot of my Friday Faves don't have a price tag...they simply require your time. And that's a big reason why we work...to buy ourselves some TIME. Some time to do wonderful things and bake amazing things like the Lemon Almond Torta above.
I see the way my beloved little brother Walter handles his grind. He'll get home from a very long and arduous workday and upon hopping out of the work van he won't even make a pit stop into our house...he'll head right into his workshop and work for hours on rebuilding an engine or polishing some chrome. Some would say that he's nuts...but I totally get it. The work he does in his workshop is his passion. And the hard day that preceded it is how earned the time to undertake his passion.
So once again...a big Happy Friday to all of you! You earned it. I hope these Friday Favorites remind you of all the reasons why you work as hard as you do.

Get a load of this DIY Stump Table... I absolutely love this! Seeing this come together from start to finish had me grinning from ear to ear. I came across it on Pinterest and I'm so happy that it led me to this duo's blog. They go by 17 apart, which happens to be their age difference, and they've got so so many super fab tutorials like this one.

I have always been head over heels (pun intended!) for leopard print! I incorporate leopard print into my wardrobe as a neutral. In my opinion, it goes with everything. For real, going back more than 15 years it's been a mainstay in my look. So when I came across these Leopard L'amour Wedges which I found on the brand new and ohhh so fabulous Hello Holiday I just knew that I found my newest fashion destination.

And as if the wedges weren't enough Hello Holiday had to go and dazzle me with this: The Earl Grey Coat ! Oh wow...it is so so me! The cut, the lines, the length, the scallop...perfect for this wonderful season.

And what better way to finish off my Friday Faves than with a necklace?! The right necklace can take a look from blah to beautiful. And I think this one has what it takes. It is from Saints & Sinners by Barbe Saint John. I love everything about it...kinda looks like a wearable Art Journal.

Ok, hope you enjoyed these Friday Favorites! All apologies for how late they posted. I wish you all a fun filled, inspiring weekend.
xo Jenny

The World's 10 Best Beaches

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1. Seychelles

One of the most photographed beaches in the world, the pale pink sands of Anse Source d’Argent unfurls across the island of La Digue, one of the 115 components of this archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The sands sparkle against a backdrop of towering granite boulders, worn by time and weather. The turquoise water is relatively shallow and protected from the ocean’s waves by a reef.
www.seychelles.com

2. Maldives

Whether your dream beach trip consists of spending a few pampered nights in a four-star resort or swimming among tropical fish some 80 feet (24 meters) underwater, the Maldives are the sort of islands where either—or both—can come true. Straddling the Equator southwest of Sri Lanka, the 1,102 islands that make up the Maldives form 26 atolls. The soft air enveloping the archipelago blends into a beautiful palm-fringed haze.
www.visitmaldives.com

3. Bora Bora, Tahiti

This is one of the magical islands that make up French Polynesia in the South Pacific. Just 18 miles (29 kilometers) long, this lush little slip of land lies in a protected lagoon edged by white sandy shores, the best being at Matira Point. Bora Bora boasts the nickname the “Romantic Island,” a moniker easy to appreciate with its isolated beaches, intimate hotels, and quiet atmosphere.
www.boraboraisland.com

4. The Hamptons, New York

One of the hip spots for the air-kissing, well-heeled set, the Hamptons boast some of the prettiest beaches on Long Island. The unspoiled shoreline begins around Southampton and runs east to the end of the island at Montauk. Windswept dunes and waving grasses border the Atlantic Ocean.
www.hamptons.com

5. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

Half a mile of sparkling sand, palm trees swaying over a white beach, lush tropical plants, and endless sunshine make Lanikai one of Hawaii’s most scenic beaches. The shore is protected by a nearby coral reef, which keeps the surf relatively calm. The water is always deep green and postcard-perfect.
www.hawaii.com

6. Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

The most popular beaches on this island in the North Atlantic are Surfside and Children’s. The waters here are relatively calm, and there’s plenty of sand to use for sunbathing or castle-building. Madaket Beach is known for its rougher surf and not-to-be-missed sunsets. Quidnet Beach provides great views of Sankaty Head lighthouse.
www.nantucket.net

7. Fraser Island, Australia

Perched on the sunny Queensland coast 161 miles (259 kilometers) northeast of Brisbane, Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and home to a wonderful beach. This World Heritage Site is an ecologist’s dream, with 640 square miles (1,664 square kilometers) of unspoiled natural paradise. Rain forests with 1,000-year-old trees sprout from the sand. Lodgings here accommodate a wide range of tourists, from the backpacking ecology lover to pampered resort fans.
www.seefraserisland.com

8. St. Bart's

One of many islands in the Caribbean Sea, St. Bart’s stands out with its blend of French chic and island relaxation. With beautiful secluded beaches, fine French cuisine, and gracious hotels, this tropical playground is popular with the Jet Set. The 8-mile-long (13-kilometer-long) island is edged by 20 beaches and small coves for swimmers and sunbathers, with sparkling water and white sand.
www.st-barths.com

9. Langkawi, Malaysia

The name “Langkawi” translates into “the land of one’s wishes,” a welcoming concept that somewhat belies the island’s historic origins as a reputed refuge for pirates. Langkawi has since become a modern hideaway for the traveler seeking an escape. If your vacation wishes extend from uncrowded white sands and clear waters to lush green forests, you will find yourself content here. Datai Bay, located on Pulau Langkawi, is a heavenly retreat on the Andaman Sea.

www.langkawi.com.my

10. Kauna'oa Bay, Hawaii

Located on the Kohala Coast of the Aloha State’s Big Island, Kauna’oa Bay is the quintessential Hawaiian spot. The 0.25-mile-long (0.4-kilometer-long), crescent-shaped beach has plenty of white sand, palm trees, and calm, clear, blue water. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, beachgoers here can snorkel or ride boogie boards. (Be careful swimming, however, because there are no lifeguards on this public beach.) At night, nestle into the sands and peer out into the water to see if you can catch a glimpse of manta rays swimming.

How many have you been too?

Let me know - I can tick off two - Bora Bora and Fraser Island.

Melissah xox

Source : National Geographic, images via websites listed and National Geographic Gallery

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Don't Be Fooled by "Reduced, Low, or Free" Junk Foods!

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Manufacturers have learned how to label junk food so that consumers think that they are "healthy" (or at least healthier) food items. However, reduced calories just means that a food has at least 25% fewer calories than the original. So, with "reduced fat" hot dogs, they can still have 12 grams of unhealthy fat (highly saturated, processed, etc.), but just be lower than the original that has 16 grams. Low-fat doesn't mean fewer calories, and oftentimes, low fat or fat free products contain close to the same amount of calories as the original because sugar has been added to replace the fat. With sugar-free products, they add fat and artificial ingredients to replace the sugar. Finally, "trans fat free" doesn't mean that the product is fat-free. Furthermore, it doesn't mean that the product has no trans fat. It simply means the product has <0.5 g/serving, so a 1 tbsp of flavored coffee creamer may have 0.4 g/tbsp (from the partially hydrogenated oils), but it can legally be labeled trans fat free. So, if you consume 5 tbsp of this stuff a day, you are above the recommended <2 gram limit for trans fat.

My recommendation: Stick to foods that you know are naturally healthy (fruit, vegetables, whole-grains, nuts, etc.), and if you must indulge, take a little bite of a treat and don't overdo it. It’s all about portion size. It's better to taste a little of something really good, rather than eating a lot of something that tastes "okay" and is full of calories and artificial additives. You'll end up eating fewer calories in the end if you eat one fresh baked chocolate chip cookie as opposed to several sugar free or low fat cookies.