ReFashioned: Crewneck Skirt

Turn your sweater into a skirt in one simple step!  All you have to do is cut the collar wide enough so that the sweater fits around your hips.  I cut one of my crew neck sweaters and slipped into it.  Then I tied the sleeves in front of me.  You can cut the bottom also but, I left mine because I wanted it to still look like a sweater.  My new skirt is very comfy and can be dressed up or down.  

Goodbye Spring

June 21st marks the first day of summer.  In some cultures, including mine, people celebrate the changes in seasons.  In particular, we celebrate the Winter's Solstice, which is the longest night of the year and the Spring Solstice which is the first day of Spring or Norouz.  A lot of the Norouz symbolisms coincide with what is used to celebrate easter like coloring eggs and the overall message of renewal and resurrection.  I hope you had a wonderful Spring and that you are ready to welcome Summer.

Outdoor Living: Outdoor Eating

In Iran despite some of the warmer summer days, a lot of old homes did not (and still do not) have air conditioning.  However, houses are built with plenty of windows and french style doors that open up to the yard.  So, people spend a lot of their summer days outdoor, in their yards.  I remember plenty of suppers that were served on the patio area of my grandparents' homes.  I live in an apartment now but, luckily I have roof access from my room.  So, when the weather allows, I eat my meals outside.  The weather has been amazing lately, and it would be wrong not to enjoy it.  Even during the week when I work, I like to find outdoor nooks in downtown where I can eat my lunch.  My new nook is by the hall of justice which allows for a decent forty minutes of people watching.  What's pictured is a very refreshing salad.  I made it left over chicken, lettuce, avocado, sunflower seeds, and the only salad dressing that I ever use:  aged balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

Mint Leaves

Mint is a commonly used fresh herb that Persians grow in their gardens.  Live Strong provides information related to the many health benefits of fresh mint leaves.  Fresh mint leaves are helpful in soothing the digestive tract, cleansing the stomach, clearing up acne and other skin irritations, cleansing blood, eliminating toxins, whitening teeth and combating bad breath.  Incorporating mint leaves to meals is a healthy and delicious choice.  Below is a recipe for a great tasting mint leaves sandwich that includes other ingredients that are commonly used in Persian meals.  Use proportions according to your own liking of each ingredient.  I love avocado so I tend to use more avocado than any of the other ingredients.  

Fresh Mint Leaves

Feta Cheese
Avocado
Lime
Toasted Whole Wheat Bread- 1 Slice
Hard Boiled Egg (Optional)

Asparagus (Optional)

Spread some feta cheese on top of the bread slice.  Toss some mint leaves on top of the feta cheese and add chopped avocado.  If you choose to add egg or asparagus, chop them as well and add on top of the avocado.  Finish by squeezing a slice of lime on top.  Enjoy!  

Embracing Color

Some cultures embrace color more than others.  One of the first places that comes to mind when I think about color, is India.  The food, the clothing, houses, and spices all consist of vibrant, and bright colors.   I don't wear a lot of color but lately, I have tried to embrace color in what I wear.  Even at home, the items I choose for decoration tend to be neutral or very pale colors.  Last night, I wore a few of my only very bright colorful clothing and accessories.

My Taylor Stich

Taylor Stitch became one of my favorite brands after a friend of mine, who works for the company gave me two Taylor Stitch button-ups as a gift.  The one that is pictured is perhaps one of my most favorite clothing items.  It is a go-to shirt when it comes to comfort, simplicity, fit, and of course its usage diversity.  It can be dressed down with shorts or jeans.  I have worn it out with jeans by tying it at the bottom, coupled with a pair of summer wedges.  As you can see, I also wear this piece to work.  You may want to check out Taylor Stitch if, you want clothing made from raw material, sturdy clothing that will last a lifetime, comfort, a handmade product, and of course a unique style.  Taylor Stitch releases a new collection of products every Wednesday morning.  My friend is in the customer relations area of the company and said great things about the company.  He turned me into a fan.  Be sure to check out their websites for some excellent buys: http://taylorstitch.com/

Summertime Blend

Hot summer evenings call for refreshing treats.  Although my childhood hometown did not get as hot as it gets here, the temperatures did rise quite high.  I spent a lot of time with my grandparents but during the summer I spent even more time with ones on  my mom's side.  My grandpa worked at the Bazaar which is located in one of the top tourist spots in Iran.  After a long day at work, two very refreshing drinks awaited him on a silver platter (literally).  My grandma knew when to start blending so the drinks would be perfectly chilled and ready to be served.  I loved to take the platter to my grandpa and would sit in front of him and watch as he drank what my grandma had prepared for him.  Below is a picture of a slightly altered version of one of those drinks.  My grandma would blend ice, watermelon, and sugar to make a sweet and delicious watermelon blend.  The second drink would be a cantaloupe mixed with ice and sugar.  What I made is very similar however, instead of sugar I added one teaspoon pure honey and also added two frozen slices of peach, which gives the drink a creamy texture.  I can't stop making these yummy drinks.  Cantaloupes and watermelons are sweet fruits so, you can probably do without the honey.  If you make any of these drinks and like them, try the same with honeydew!

Handmade with Love

Most of what I use as decorative items for my apartment (specifically my room) are either handmade, or have a story attached to them.  Two of the items in my room are the products of my mom's lovely skillful hands.  She recently took some pottery classes and quickly began making jar after jar after jar and some other pieces.  I picked the light blue/mint colored container because I really liked the color and it wasn't "perfect".  She made some excellent pieces but I liked this one more because it's a bit imperfect and it's evident that it's handmade.  Also, it's one of her earlier pieces which makes it more special for me.  I've used this for numerous purposes.  Currently, I store hand/foot cream in it with a small bottle of lotion.  It's on my small vanity area close to my bed so I don't forget to moisturize.  I will add other handmade pieces to this section later.  I try not to purchase generic decorative items because I want my living space to be unique and to be representative of me instead of looking like a commercial store.  Keep visiting for more decor pieces from my apartment.