Hi there! Hope your summer is going swimmingly. Mine is hot hot hot. (No, I’m not talking about 50 Shades of Grey!) I wanted to give you a little gossip: I’m going to be sporadic in my musings during July while I finish my new book AND make some TV appearances. So, look for an announcement about the book in August and in the meantime, set your DVRs for July 18, when I’ll be joining the fun over on ABC at Good Afternoon America.
Every Saturday morning of the summer you’ll find me tooling about town with a cup of coffee and pocketful of ones to see what I might find at garage sales. One of the greatest joys of “saling” is putting the pieces of the puzzle together–collecting and curating–to give something a look. At left is the wall of my clubhouse. It’s filled with FUN from fishing rods and horseshoes, to badminton and costumes. All of which I bought one at a time for dimes on the dollar at garage sales. That’s how I think we can find our individual style–what we love–without breaking the bank. As I chronicle in Garage Sale America, I decorated the house at Edgewater Farm from bed frames to teaspoons for less than $5000. All it takes to bring a look to life is some creative thinking, a few bucks, and a Saturday cruise around town. My Life 101 advice: Get out there and hunt for your treasure! You’ll find fun in the process. If you don’t believe me, grab Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer’s I Brake for Yard Sales. She shows her design brilliance and how she decorated Kathy Griffin’s gorgeous house!
I adore lovely reminders of the past. Growing up in South Carolina, my grandmother always had hydrangea in her yard, and at 90 (Happy birthday, Mom!), she still does. I’ve planted it strategically around Edgewater Farm, so I’m reminded of her. I also think of her when I bend down to pick up a stick, load a garage sale treasure into the car, or find myself taking a “shortcut.” What did you see today that reminds you of someone you love? If you didn’t, might I give you a little Life 101 Advice: Think about the things that make you the happiest. Most likely attached to each is a memory or a moment with someone you love.
Hello ladies! (And gents.) Grab yourself a copy of this week’s Woman’s World magazine and catch some of my advice on how to make money selling the stuff out of your attics, basements and closets. (Yes, you know the stuff you haven’t used since Bush, Sr. was president.) Did you know that 1 out of 10 American families is paying a monthly fee to store their extra stuff! Why? I hope it’s not so they can see their belongings auctioned off on Storage Wars! In this economy, who needs to pay to keep it? Instead it’s time your stuff pays you! I give Garage Sale Tips like:
Bundle books & DVDs. Instead of selling them separately, mark them “3 for x”. Rather than taking just 1, people will likely buy 3. In the great article put together by writer Kristina Mastrocola, I also tell you the secrets of setting up a $1 Table and the key words on a sign that attract hoards. Grab yourself a copy… and throw yourself a sale. I’ll come buy.
Today we celebrate our freedom. “IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776…The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events,…” Our Declaration of Independence and fight for freedom has continued to be an inspiration for oppressed people around the world. Let’s never forget we are “endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Here’s to recognizing there is still a battle for Independence raging and we must each do our part to help ALL achieve equal rights and opportunities for health, wealth, and happiness.
I always think of my grandfather PaPa on July 4th. (He’d like my garage sale finds: star spangled hat and vintage flag!) PaPa always brought fireworks and made the day something to look forward to. So, today… get outside, have fun, and make some memories with those you love. Just do me one favor, enjoy your fun responsibly. So, I can see you next week!
Westminster loves good FUN and helping a worthwhile charity as much as I do. That’s why he’s asking for your vote! In honor of the memory of her beloved Lucky, our friend Wendy Diamond is hosting the FairyTail Wedding of the Century to help bring awareness to canine cancer, animal rescue and welfare, and breaking a Guinness World Record. Written about in today’s HuffingtonPost, Wendy is picking a groom for her new foster pup, Baby Hope Diamond, from the good looking grooms who leash the most votes. Westminster wants to help Hope spread the word about rescue, adoption, and canine cancer. Do us and the Humane Society a favor, and go here, like the page, and scroll down to vote for Westminster. He can’t wait to say, “I do.”
Just harvested some kale, bok choy, and blueberries from the garden at Edgewater Farm and thought I’d share a simple salad that is probably the best thing you can do for your body. Kale, known as the “queen of greens,” is one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. It’s packed with antioxidant vitamins A, C, and K–associated with many anti-cancer and anti-aging health benefits. I’m getting younger just smelling it!
Kale Salad 101: wash and chop the kale, toss with blueberries (the highest anti-oxidant value fruit long attributed to the longevity and wellness of Arctic indigenous natives!) Then, dress with a mixture of balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and you’ve got a WOW for both your tastebuds and your cells.
Now, that’s a salad that will do a body good!
Bok choy, we’ll sauté you later!
Ho Ho Ho! Or should I say “oh, oh, oh!”? Today marks exactly six months until Christmas. In “Fun speak” that’s LEON day (or NOEL spelled backwards). So, you can either haul out the holly OR get started on your Christmas shopping! Since I love full disclosure, I’ll admit there’s one aluminum Christmas tree still up at Edgewater Farm. I promise to take it down immediately after LEON day festivities are over. And here’s a little Christmas trivia for you from my book Merry Christmas America (on LEON day sale for $7.98!)… Did you know that in the United States alone, there are nearly 3000 mall Santas. During each holiday season each Santa’s lap greets the weight of as many as 10,000 children. (Fortunately, not all at once.) #1 Complaint: yanked beards. Ouch.
I always assumed the fortune cookie was from China? Nope. The post-Chinese dinner present that is a pop culture icon was created in the U.S.A. in the early 1900s by either a Chinese immigrant in LA or a Japanese immigrant in San Francisco. Since dessert was not traditionally part of Chinese cuisine, the cookies offered something exciting at the end of dinner and became expected in Chinese restaurants after World War II. Early fortunes featured Biblical sayings, or aphorisms from Confucius or Ben Franklin. Today’s fortunes might include lucky lottery numbers, phonetic Chinese words, and, well, some advice. There are 3 billion fortune cookies made each year, and they are not eaten in China!
And with that, here is the first in our series Advice from a Fortune Cookie: You can always find happiness at work on Friday. Now that’s genius.
I just harvested my first crop at Edgewater Farm this season: radishes. I know some people have quite the aversion to radishes, but they are good for you! Radishes are high in vitamin C and a great detoxifier, which helps prevent many types of cancer including; kidney, stomach, mouth and colon cancers. They’re great for weight loss and, if you get a cold or infection, they’re an anti-congestive. So, you haters, try my DETOX SALAD (4 servings): shred half a head of red cabbage, chop 1 red apple and a handful of red radishes, grate 1 carrot, chop handful of parsley. Mix in a bowl with 5 tbsp of olive oil, the juice of 1/2 a lemon and a spoonful of honey. Yummy. Your body will like me and you might even decide you like radishes.
