All it takes is a little extra touch...

...to turn a single scoop of ice cream into a very special dessert.  I like ice cream as much as anyone, but I don't find the super-size Blizzards and triple scoop sundaes very satisfying.  It's just too much; too, too much.  But after being in Switzerland, I discovered the Swiss know how to make a single scoop of ice cream feel like a special dessert.  Please note in the picture above ~ just a single scoop of Pistachio ice cream, a bit of fruit garnish, in this case it's a slice of red apple and a slice of kiwi, with a single little cookie across the top.  The dish is set on top of a doily covered plate and served to you with a special ice cream spoon. Add a mint leaf and, voila!  Really very simple, but oh, so much more satisfying than an oversized fast foot concoction.  I'm going to try this one at home.  Easy & elegant.

A Beautiful Basic

After trying a few other shades this summer, I'm back to my beautiful basic - Bobbi Brown Creme Shadow in Sand Dollar.  This creamy, creaseless, long-lasting shadow is one of my make-up staples and Sand Dollar is a great neutral color.  It's not too light, not too dark, and rather than looking made-up, I just look "finished".  

Cute, Comfortable, Hippie Shoes!

Photo courtesy of Zappos - Love them, too!

When I travel, I only pack two pairs of shoes - a pair of light hikers and a comfortable walking sandal.  So, with just two pairs of shoes for ten days, I am extremely picky.  The shoes have to earn their keep and be very, very versatile and very, very comfortable, and I like for them to have a bit of style, too.   While shopping this summer, I came across this pair of Dansko Sigrid sandals.  Perfect!  Yes, they were comfortable, even after walking hours and hours on cobblestone streets.  The adjustable buckle provided a bit more security and stability compared to a more common slide-style on the uneven streets.  Yes, they were versatile, I wore them with everything from khaki shorts during the day, to jeans and a cardigan for a casual family dinner, and even with a black dress and a bit of sparkle for a romantic dinner alone with B.  The black leather upper with natural wood tone outsole made it easy to dress them up or down.   And I think they are cute in a retro-hippie kind of way.  Even now at home, I still find them wearing them at least several times a week.  Expensive, just a bit - but cost per wear will be very, very low.

I'm Back...

From two of my favorite things...

From that beautiful and culturally rich country... Switzerland!  

I coordinated a trip for my husband and me and seven other members of my extended family to our "hometown" of Frutigen, Switzerland.  It was a wonderful trip filled with lots of laughs, lots of cheese and lots of chocolate and the most incredible scenery.  

Just five days after I returned, it was time for our class workshop followed the next week by the first day of class for Bible Study Fellowship.  As the Class Administrator I am responsible for hosting the ~ 450 women in our class and managing the support staff such as ushers, treasurer, and AV system.  BSF is an awesome way to learn about the Bible.  For more information or to see if there is a class in your area, check out the website:  www.bsfinternational.org  

So now it's back to more regular, or at least semi-regular, blogging.  I've got a lot more pearls to share with you in the upcoming weeks.  Thanks for reading!

They're Back.....

Vanilla Tootsie Rolls!  A bit of luscious chewy goodness.  Creamy vanilla flavor.  Just a little treat.  The problem is they are only offered a few times during the year.  I found them recently in the Halloween candy aisle at Target, and hoping they will be back again in the Christmas treats section in a few months.

Perfect!

Finally found 'em ~ the perfect fall capri's!  I have not one, not two, but at least three pairs of white capri's in my closet.   No, not exactly the same - they are all different lengths and fabrics, and I do wear all three pairs, so that is not the problem.  The problem is late August and early September.  It's too hot for jeans, but too "fall" for white capris.  I took a chance ordering these Cotton Capri Pants with Tabs from Ann Taylor last week during one of their many sales.  Mostly cotton with a touch of spandex and cute little adjustable tabs at the waist.  The color is called "pine cone" ~  a nice cross between olive green and dark gray.  The fit = perfect.  The length = spot on.  Now I am all set for those early fall football games!  RDP and Boiler Up!

Grapefruit + Bergamot = 7-Up??

I don't why, but whenever I wash my hands with this soap, it reminds me of 7-Up!  Who would have thought that by combining Grapefruit and Bergamot you could get the scent of 7-Up!  Which, if you think about it, is really a nice, crisp, clean scent - not too sweet, not too flowery, not too fruity.  Just fresh and clean.  I keep a bottle of this delicious foamy soap by the kitchen sink for quick hand wash-ups, and save the harsher dishwashing soap for the dishes.  A few years ago you could only find Kiss My Face Grapefruit & Bergamot Foaming Soap at Trader Joe's and some health food stores.  Now, if you look carefully, you will see it on the shelf at Marsh, Kroger, Wal-Mart and other mainstream stores.