Sweet Summer Techsesscories

First things first...

I'm HOME! Like Seattle home, that is. My summer voyage now complete I have returned to the Paciffic Northwest. And while I hope to manage a few fun rendezvous throughout the rest of the season (I'm gunning for a low-key mountain river tubing trip) I brought back a new techsesscory to remind me of the warm sunny days I spent on my whirlwind trip for the times when the Seattle skies are grey.

Nothing says summer like an ice cream cone or two, even if they're on your iPhone! I picked up this perky little, slightly humorous, beauty in the burbs of Chi-town at a Five Below, "It's like a nicer dollar store where everything is five dollars or below." my MIL said. Since its not a forever case I figured some fun graphics could make for a snappy change.

What's your "good ole days o' summer" pick me up?

Kisses,

K

(Image property of Krista Carson)

Inspire Me Tuesday

How cool is this?!?

This installation entitled Bâtement (Building) by Leandro Erlich turned Le 104 art complex in Paris into a playground of sorts with its interaction friendly display. Ability to scale tall buildings? Check please! At least you can appear to do so with this nifty work of art.

I hope this fun and friendly piece inspires you to get out and see something in person. Most big cities have a free day during the summer and even of the smallest of towns has something to offer. Check google or your local paper. If, par chance, you are the only creative person around in your neck o' woods... Even better! Put on your own show!

Let me know what you do!

Kisses,

K

(Image via Pinterest)

Mineral Mondays!

Emerald: A variety of Beryl

A green gem variety of Beryl, highly sought after as a precious gem stone. The majority of the world's gem quality Emeralds come from the Muzo area of Colombia.
The colour in Emerald is caused by trace amounts of a chromophore such as Chromium or Vanadium.

Mineral Information on:
beryl

Chemical Group: silicate

Chemical Formula: Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆

Color: emerald green, pale green, light blue, yellow, white, pink Streak: white


Luster: vitreous or resinous Transparency: transparent to subtranslucent



Hardness: 7.5 to 8 Specific Gravity: 2.63 to 2.80

Fracture: conchoidal to uneven

Cleavage: imperfect and indistinct



Crystal Forms: Hexagonal system
Crystals are usually 6-sided prisms capped with flat surfaces.

Mineral Associations: found in pegmatites

Identifying Characteristics: crystal shape and a pale-green color

Uses: as a gemstone; also as a source of the element beryllium

Occurrences: Colombia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Russia, Madagascar, SW Africa;
in the U.S. in Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, north Carolina, California

Toxicity: when-swallowed- when inhaled-

Additional Information:
If gemstone quality: green is emerald, bluish green is aquamarine,
pink is morganite, yellow is golden beryl or heliodor.




Kissses, 

K





(Images and info via minfind, Pinterest and Cochise)


 

Shopbop Just Get's It Right

Shopbop does it again with a stellar basic essentials list. There isn't one thing pictured above that I wouldn't love to have in my closet! It makes for great shop your closet inspiration too... I'll have to use this as a guide when I get back home. Love! What are your basic summer essentials?

Kisses,

K

(Image via Pinterest)

 

Zebra Love

I have a thing for Zebras... By thing... I mean obsession.

This Kate Spade belt not only helps fulfill this obsession but happens to match a red trimmed Zebra purse I might own... (Husband: hint, hint)

Kisses,

K

(Image via Zappos)

 

Chicago, Chicago

My kind of town!

I'm back Chi-town and I'm so excited to take in as much of your fabulous fun as I can before heading back to the Paciffic Northwest!

Your skyline? C'est magnifique!

Your food? È delizioso!

Friends and Family? Maravilloso!

Here's a quick taste:

The Willis Sear's tower as seen from my favorite little piece of paradise downtown... It's a tiny tree lined park full of flowers with a little wading stream (for your tired tootsies) nestled right between Frank Gehry's (awesome) amphitheater in Millennium Park and the Chicago Museum of Art.

The Hancock Tower with Water Tower Place's turrets in front.

And lastly the city viewed from the top (56th to be exact) floor of my old building right before sunset with the Hancock Building's iconic sillouette towering above the rest.

Kisses,

K

Officially A Landmark!

Chicago's own Wrigley Building finally achieved officially historic Landmark Status today!

The ground was broken back in 1920 by the chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. in order to house his corporate headquarters.

The Wrigley Building as seen from the bridge spanning the Chicago River (See the Hancock Tower hiding in the background on the right behind the blue flag?)

The gorgeous building was designed by the architectural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White with the shape of Seville's Cathedral's Giralda Tower as inspiration. At the time it was the only major office building north of the Chicago River.

The much newer Trump Building towers over Wrigley but never outshines it

Congratulations Wrigley Building, you were always the most iconic Landmark in Chi-town to me!

Kisses,

K

(All images by Krista Carson and info via Wikipedia)