160 days until the Summer Solstice

160 days

June 21st is my happy place

My husband and I have owned our home for 20 years. Over the years, the home has been through a lot of redecorating, remodeling and upgrades. More recently, I asked my husband to pick up some white paint suggested by Amber Lewis, author of Made for Living, a book I purchased at Station 7 Station in Seattle’s Capital Hill shop. She is an interior designer and has an entire chapter about white paint. She writes about choosing a few options, considering your feeling for the space, light in the space, windows, lighting, room use … since I’m so busy these days I just went for it and sent the husband to Benjamin Moore for a gallon of White Dove. Here’s what she says about “White Dove”:

“The color White Dove by Dunn-Edwards is a perfect clean and bright white, ideal for mid-century-style homes …” - Amber Lewis

Most of my home is already white. Last summer we painted the walls, painted over the dark grey walls in the diningroom with pale grey, added white shiplap to many walls, lighter furniture, lighter rugs … the last hold out was our livingroom fireplace, which is now … White Dove.

Subsequently I made a few shopping trips to Crate & Barrel and the Home Goods stores. I packed my cart with white textured goods - new blanket, varied height vases of interesting texture, natural accents. I was looking to brighten up my home in any way I could. I suddenly realized I needed more light everywhere! I was drowning in dark.

Not that my home wasn’t already pretty white, but our rambler doesn’t get much natural light. It’s a 1968 build with big windows, but crazy big eaves. I was suffering from a depression that I couldn’t shake in my day. You see, I leave for work around 7am, I’m inside all day and my desk faces away from the window in my office. I leave after 4pm and it’s already dusk. By the time I arrive home, it’s past sundown and dark again. I realize Seattle isn’t the best place to reside during the winter. I can honestly say that I can’t remember a winter that has affected me this badly. Weekends are too short and we’re very busy in court these days so working from home is a non-option on most days.

I’ve been thinking about what I can do to make it through the next 160 days. Here’s what I came up with:

• Purchased Vitamin D3 - Strong sunlight triggers vitamin D production in your skin. Your liver and kidneys complete the conversion to vitamin D’s most active form, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, also called vitamin D3. In theory, you can make all the vitamin D you need for the year with a few minutes of direct exposure to the sun a few times a week during the summer months. In reality, many people do not produce the required vitamin D, either because their skin is unable to absorb it, or they don’t spend enough time outside. Many also fail to get what they need from food and dietary supplements. According to the USDA’s 2015 dietary guidelines for Americans, most children and adults consistently come up short for vitamin D.* - www.centrum.com

• Ordered fresh flowers for my office twice per month. We don’t have the benefit of grabbing flowers from the public market during the winter, so I think this will help cheer up my office. Thoughts of summer days.

• Forcing myself to get out of my office during the lunch hour for some fresh air and sunlight. A little harder during a rainy day or with the cloud cover. I may try to purchase a daylight lamp to help boost my natural Vit D3. Here’s one I found: Daylight Lamp.

• Brightening up my home helps my mood when I return home. I enjoy combing through my new home decor books for ideas. The husband is working on completing our sunroom ceiling and as soon as it’s no longer a construction zone, we can begin enjoying the firepit and outdoor heater. Hopefully soon we’ll have a partially heated space to read a book with a cuppa hot tea.

I’ve rambled and gotten a bit off topic. I believe by speaking up about my recent depression, it will help me and help others. The family plan is to be at our place in Cabo San Lucas during the summer equinox - soaking up some much needed true Vit D3! But until then, I’ve just got to look forward to weekends and sunny days.

I’ll keep you posted!

Gabby

First name basis with the delivery drivers?

My husband just quit asking …

At this point, my husband just quit asking. Drivers show up at the door, sometimes multiple times per day, but being champion of the working class, he supports my online shopping to help keep businesses (and delivery companies) afloat. We’re both fortunate to be working remotely, saving money on gas, eating out, Starbucks that it seems the least we can do to support the economy. And no, with the exception to the UPS guy who’s been with us for years, I don’t know all their first names.

I received a few things that I’m especially happy about! I thought I’d give you a little “review” of how I’m enjoying these purchases.

My good buddy, who is a former Chloe + Isabel Merchie, is names Edlin Escobar. She lives in sunny California and is oh so fashionably fabulous! She has a great social media following because of her fashion and makeup knowledge. I am kinda envious of her apartment decor too - she has the perfect California Boho vibe. She recently started repping Beauty Counter so I immediately sat up and took notice.

Edlin is particular so I know to trust her intuition. She shared on social media about the All Bright C Serum and how wonderfully it was working for her. The serum purports to lighten the skin, reduce the appearance of dark spots and defend the skin against environmental stressors. That all sounded like something I needed to try!

Ever since the blasted 45 hit me, I’ve been struggling with some serious dark spots on my face. No, these aren’t cute freckles caused by the sun, but the large dark areas neglected in large part and exacerbated by no sunscreen during my formative convertible vehicle years. I’ve been using a regimen for the last few years, and while it definitely lightened my spots, sans makeup, my daughters still comment that they can see the dark lines on my face.

After using the All Bright C Serum and the Overnight Resurfacing Peel for about 2 weeks, I have to say I’m really seeing a difference, and it feels lovely. Sometimes the other regimen dried out my skin - but this feels soft and gives me a glow. Truly! When I put it on, I feel like I could walk out of the house with a bit of a sunshine on my face. The Overnight Peel is used a few times per week, dries in 15 minutes and simply washes off with your morning face ritual. Between the two, I’ve been really happy.

If you’d like to shop Beauty Counter (and I’m really considering adding to my collection) try Edlin’s website. She’s down to earth, friendly and budget friendly. I just received an email today informing me the All Bright C Serum was out of stock, but they’re taking pre-orders.

And tell Edlin I said hello!

My favorite hand soap

Oh Aveda … take me away

Waaaaay back, even pre kids I think, my sister in law Yvonne bought me some of this Avenda Rosemary Mint hand and body wash for my birthday. Once I started using it, I fell in love with the scent and softness of my skin. Since then, it’s always been on my “must have beauty requirements” list. I carefully guard the bottles against overuse on stuff like my husband’s greasy hands and let people know “a little goes a long way”. I buy the BIG bottles for body soap in the shower and love bubblebaths with the lovely scent.

After running out of hand soap at our vacation home, I returned home to find our own home supply diminished as well. Who figured it would be so difficult to find hand soap? I searched Amazon and checked to see if Bath and Body Works was open. I couldn’t find any at Target, Safeway or even Costco. So I spoiled my household a bit and placed an order (getting some lovely Aveda points along the way) for 2 of the 8.5 fl oz bottles to fill the shortfall. I can continue to refill these with my BIG guy and I’m loving having it at my fingertips once again.

I would encourage anyone needing some hand soap to give Aveda a try. It’s pricey, but one small pump will fill your hands with a lovely lather and spa like smell. All available at Aveda.com.

Much love from a fellow shopper!!

Gabby

If you could choose your color - what would it be?

If you could choose your color, what would it be?

July 31st is the last day to order your sandals ... but could bags be next?

July 31st is the last day to order your Sseko Custom Sandals. With the onslaught of Fall/Winter on August 1st (yes I know, Fall comes early in Seattle, even though we barely made it to 8 weeks of summer) so our sandal production slows down for the year.

However, a new exciting change is on the horizon! Starting with our Fall/Winter 2018 catalog, you can move onto Custom bags! More details to come, but if you could design your perfect bag, what would it look like? What color would it be? What would you use it for? Who would you gift it to?

With the start of my daughter's first year as a Wildcat, I'd have to order up a red/black bag for all my trips to campus! Can't wait to see what's included ... but if you're interested in ordering those green gladiator sandals or purple and gold crossovers, better get on the ball!