Vanity Fair's 2012 International Best Dressed List

Princess Kate leads off Vanity Fair's best dressed list for 2012. I love this turquoise dress with the sheer cap sleeves and the delicate belt. (Gown by Jenny Packman)

Vanity Fair's list also includes...
Actress Jessica Chastain (Her dress was my favorite at the academy awards.)
Alicia Keys (musician)
Matt Lauer (co-anchor the Today Shoe)
What???? No Michelle Obama?

more...

Photos of the 2012 Olympics

The official Olympics site has lots of great pictures of all the wonderful things happening in London this week. Check it out here...

Outdoor Lighting

I just love wonderful outdoor lighting in the summer. There is something so special sitting outside, on the patio with friends...talking, drinking wine, and having the patio come alive as the sun sets and the garden turns sparkly with evening lights. Martha Stewart, of course, has some fabulous lighting ideas including covering voltives with sheets of vellum held together with chopsticks.

20 Ways to Update Your Kitchen

Some great ideas to update your kitchen without spending a fortune. I sure would love to have a new kitchen, but for now a few of these ideas should help update the kitchen's look. I especially like the idea of painting everything white and replacing the hardware. I also like that silver tray where you can add magnets for notes and recipes.

Upcycled and Recycled Jewelry

I love it when creative people recycle old things to make fabulous new items. Julia Vasic makes beautiful jewelry from discarded t-shirts and recycled metals. She also donates a portion of each purchase to the Endangered Species Coalition.

"Fashion is change and reinvention. Sustainability is just the next step.  Break the rhythm of fashion. March to a new drum."

#73 - A Year of Blogging and Journaling Ideas - Top Ten Favorite Songs

Here are 10 favorite songs that are guaranteed to get me dancing around the kitchen.

1.   I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
2.   Mercy - by Duffy

3.   Feeling Alright by Joe Cocker 

4.   Shake Rattle and Roll by Joe Turner

5.   Koop Island Blues by Koop Island

6.   Say Hey - by Michael Franti

7.   Dancing With Myself by Nouvelle Vague

8.   Let the Good Times Roll by Buckwheat Zydeco

9.   Stuck on You by Elvis Presley

10. Respect by Aretha

You can download, for free, my entire ebook - A Year of Blogging and Journaling Ideas

Did You Know...

...a Third of Emmy Nominees are Over 50? They include...

Julianne Moore, 51, "Game Change"
Michael J. Fox, 51, "The Good Wife"
Loretta Devine, 62, "Grey's Anatomy"
Giancarlo Esposito, 54, "Breaking Bad"
Christine Baranski, 60, "The Good Wife"
Maggie Smith, 77, "Downton Abbey"
Glenn Close, 65, "Damages"
 more...

Wish I had the shoulders and arms (and waist and hips and neck) to wear this Dior outfit. I love the 50s retro feel. I'm not totally sure I like the pops of red...what do you think?

For more "best dressed" celebrities from this week go to Harper's Bazaar.

30 Reasons Being a Woman is Awesome

Saw this post about why women are awesome. I especially liked...
#4 Nancy Drew was a chick
#6 Women are more likely to remember where they left their keys
#11 Women are better leaders
more...
To these I would add...Women are fabulous bloggers and women wear cuter sandals.
What would be on your list?

Ten Life Lessons I Learned From My Garage Sale

1.  Smiles are contagious - One little boy had a smile from ear to ear when he gave my dog Lola a treat and she put up her paw to shake. He beamed! And so did I.
2.  People don't care if I crazily spent $425 several years ago on a super duper large paper cutter. They only want to spend $25.
3.  If you want to find out some good books to read. Sell books. Book lovers love to talk about their favorite books when browsing yours.
4.  If you place the tables along the path in your flower garden, people linger longer. And only a few people will cut across the plants instead of walk on the path.
5.  Everyone has stories and they like to share them.
6.  It pays to be generous and kind.
7.  Ask a child if they want to have a bake sale/lemonade stand at the same time. People appreciate the snack and cold drink. Last year my friend's daughter sold scones and lemonade to help raise money for her laptop. This year people were disappointed that she wasn't there.
8.  Give something away. I had a bunch of hand fans that I made a while back and gave them away to the people who looked hot.
9.  Wear a hat and sunscreen. I have a sunburn today and probably more wrinkles by tomorrow!
10.The best moments of joy are the little moments. I had the most marvelous time negotiating a price with a 5 year old boy for two large boxes of art pencils - one for him and one for his 3 year old sister. I started to just give them the pencils, but realized that the negotiating was important to this little boy. They carried those boxes out to the car like they were absolute treasures. The five year old was so proud and my heart just spilled over with their joy.

Flirting after 40

I have quite a few friends who are out there in the dating world again. I saw this article which has some tips if you are out of practice in the flirting area.

Ellen Burstyn Stars on Political Animal

In “Political Animals,” the USA Network series event, Ellen Burstyn stars as Margaret Barrish, part of a Clinton-esque political clan. A straight-shooting, one-time Vegas showgirl, Margaret is the mother of Elaine Barrish Hammond (Sigourney Weaver), a former First Lady who subsequently divorces her philandering husband and is named Secretary of State. The six-part series premieres July 15. More.

I have my tivo set. Are you going to watch Political Animals?

Before and After Yard Ideas

Need some inspiration for your patio/yard? Sunset has a terrific series of before and after photos with small ideas that make a huge difference.

27 Things to do with Fresh Corn

I love corn on the cob. I've never was much for cutting the corn off the cob (except for when my sister was a teenager and wore braces!). However my friend Lois makes a fabulous scorched corn off the cob. I came across this article in Sunset for 27 ways to do fresh corn - on and off the cobb. Yummmmm.

Cynthia

Versailles Commuter Train Designed In Homage To French Palace

Now this is a fabulous idea for commuter trains. Why can't we do this for all commuter trains? There could be the Picasso train, the Chagall train, the Rembrandt train...

Cold Summer Soups

7 Summer Soups including...
Gingery Carrot Soup

Gaspacho

Nectarine and Tomato Soup

Moroccan Vegetable Soup

Asparagus Soup with Turkey and Tomato Tarts

Fresh Tomato Soup

Chilled Carrot-Ginger Soup

Read more: Cold Soups - Summer Recipes - Woman's Day 

How To Make Wine

Love the graphics at Visual News.

Happy 4th of July

Hope everyone has a fabulous 4th of July with lots of dramatic fire works!

Margarita Watermelon Pops

Oh Yeah!!!! I think these should be a 4th of July tradition....starting right now!!!!

THE BEST OF FALL 2012 COUTURE

The most glamorous 2012 fashions from Paris runways.

How To Make Lighted Wine Bottles

I love this DIY from Fresh Home. Wouldn't this make a great gift for a wine enthusiast!

13 Summer Coctails to Serve at your 4th of July Party

From HGTV.