Boots McBlog

Last summer,  my mom and dad let me borrow their cute little red convertible.   My spirits were low and something about having the sun on my shoulders and the wind in my hair seemed therapeutic at the time.    One particular evening, after a torrential rain and a terrible day,  I put the top down, cranked up “A Summer Place”  on the stereo,  and went for a sunset drive.     I looked in the sky and saw it,  a gorgeous PINK sunset.     I’m not sure in my entire life I ever noticed a sky so pink, so beautiful,  so girly!      I did what any techno-savvy, thirty-something would do in that moment of awe…I grabbed my trusty lil iPhone, took a picture,  and directly sent it over the interwebs via twitter and facebook.   The caption:

“I love it when God tells the sky she’s beautiful and she blushes.”

From that moment on, I’ve been consciously aware of sunsets and the evening sky.  I can sit for hours and watch the watercolor effects  peak and then fade until  the stars and the moon appear.  I often wonder if its an age thing.  I really don’t remember being as mesmerized by God’s handiwork as a child.    In this last year of  my sunset observances,  I’ve come to realize just how rare PINK sunsets really are.  They don’t happen every day.  So,  I did a little research.   Scientifically speaking,  the colors of the sunset are created by the light reflected through the spectrum  ( remember the prism of light –  ROY G BIV we learned about in grade school science)  and the angle at which the clouds cause the light to bend.   Purples and blues have shorter wavelengths.  Reds and oranges have longer wavelengths.  As light scatters and is reflected amongst the clouds,  the shorter lengths don’t travel as far and the oranges and reds show up more brilliantly.   The rare pinks it seems, happen when there is more atmospheric dust  kicked up by storms and pollution.  These dirty particles reflect the light in all different directions and turn the sky PINK.

That got me thinking…

These beautiful pink skies….the sunsets I sit and enjoy the most – are because light is shining through a bunch of atmospheric junk.      The Creator of all things could choose to present this  spectacular  evening  light show in any fashion He chooses,  and yet this is how He casts the rosiest of light upon the world.

He does the exact same thing with us.   Storms happen in all of our lives.    Dust gets kicked up and we’re left with a lot of atmospheric junk.      When we choose to take that junk,  that unsettled dust in our lives,  and  we allow His Light and love to filter through it,  our lives suddenly become a glorious reflection of His creation and his grace.  When we embrace  that our mess is His message,  The Way, the Truth, The Light reflects off our dirty lives and casts a rosy glow of hope to the world,  REAL hope.  At that moment,  He looks at us and says –  we. are. beautiful.   I don’t know about you, but when the Creator  of all the Heavens can look at me and my dirt and say that, I can’t help but blush.

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.   God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.   If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?   I’m putting you on a light stand.   Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven”

Matthew 5: 14-16,  The Message

As you read this today,  I’m on my way to a conference designed to help Christian writers and speakers find their voice in sharing God’s message.  I’m on a “standby list” to speak and be critiqued.   I can’t really tell you how I’ve ended up  with this as my summer vacation.  I don’t see myself as a writer or a speaker… But I’m going.  Out of faith.  Only He knows why I’ll be sitting there.   So, Pray I figure out why I’m there and I learn what I need to learn.   Pray for my safety.   I am thankful for you, my sweet friends.

Cheers and Love -

With the humidity and triple digit heat, it’s feeling rather tropical here in the South.   My itinerary doesn’t list any Tahitian destinations anytime soon.  Instead of trying to beat the heat,  I thought I’d celebrate it with a few lush touches at home and nothing says island life to me like a coconut.   Yes,  I like pina coladas.   For those of you landlocked with me –  here are a few other things we’ll need to plan our escape.

Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil  is the official – albeit  taboo – scent of summer.   Drugstores still sell this.   Used as a scent and not as a sunblock, a few drops of this can unleash that carefree oceanside feeling even if you are stuck at your desk.

available at drugstores

Of course, to have that sunkissed look of  summer,   NARS Body Glow and Monoi Body Glow II  are essentials to achieving a subtle glow with a heavenly scent of gardenia and coconut.  NARS describes this as French Polynesian.  I say it sounds more Old South meets Tahiti.

NARS body glow, Sephora

In addition to the scent of the coconut,  I love the look of a coconut.  The rough grassy dark wood paired with crisp white is one of my favorite go-to looks for summer.    For at home entertaining,  I love  setting the table with these wooden serving pieces with a natural burlap table skirt and crisp white linens, mix in some tea lights for a little shimmer.

www.macys.com

As for dressing myself…

for day –  This little easy breezy dress from Calypso St Barth paired with long wooden beads, and kenneth jay lane bracelet for a little sparkle.

ruffle poet dress, calypso st. barth

Kenneth Jay Lane, Neiman Marcus

For a girls night out –  I might pair Calypso’s Dale Dress in White  with the coconut shell colored miu miu caged heels.

Dale Dress, Calypso St. Barth

miu miu, Neiman Marcus

And for a Junior League event or charity luncheon ( who says you can’t be a tropical lady?) – I absolutely adore this Haley Dress by Milly.   Pairing it with these wooden beads  in a style appropriatly called “Where we Ought to be”  from Elva Fields (one of my favorite new finds)

Haley Dress, www.millyny.com

Where We Ought To Be, Elva Fields

My sweet friends, if destinations are limited between down home and downtown for the next few weeks,  don’t despair, we can at least grab a little shimmer, scent, and coconut inspired fashion….maybe a pina colada or two… and dream of escape.

Cheers.

Take a deep breath.  Exhale.   Maybe it’s been a tough week. month. year.  If at this moment you could escape the chaos of life, where would you go?    Where is the one place that is full of the sites, sounds, textures, fragrances of your dreams?  When a masseuse or therapists asks you to close your eyes to go there –   Where is your “happy place”?

My “happy place” is a quaint white cottage nestled among rosemary, pink geraniums and pale roses.  From my bricked terrace, I see the rising mountains and the vast ocean.   A cool breeze carries the calming scent of lavender.  I hear the faint crashing of the waves.  It feels and looks like a dream – but this is reality –  at San Ysidro Ranch.

image courtesy of www.sanysidroranch.com

Two years ago,  The Angler and I planned a California get-away.  We knew we wanted to spend a few days in Santa Barbara.  I credit him for finding this jewel, a stone’s throw from Oprah’s beloved “Promise Land”.   Through his online research, he happened upon a rave review by the New York Times and emailed me the link to the article and a link to the ranch which has existed since 1893.    Of course,  I’m a girly girl – so the word “ranch” immediately threw me off.   Then,  I saw the pictures of the white cottages.  The landscape of roses and Provençal herbs.  I read  of the  newly completed $150 million renovation by owner Ty Warner ( as in Beanie Baby Ty).  The site was managed by Rosewood Resorts. ( think Mansion on Turtle Creek) I read the rich history. Vivian Leigh (Scarlett O’Hara) married  Sir  Laurence Olivier here.  Jack and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned here.   I was smitten.   I immediately called to check availability for our dates of travel.   Only one room was available.  (Thank you, God!)    Well,  actually two rooms/ cottages were available.  Werner Cottage, the 2200 square foot private residence with decor reminiscent of a european country house and all the amenities of a well appointed life was available for $5000 / night.    I booked the ranch room.

The day arrived when we left our mod beachy digs in San Diego to trek to our quaint cottage in Montecito.  As we made our way up the winding path to the Hacienda ( the main reception house) and I saw in real life  for the first time the beauty of the ranch, I was breathless.  We stopped the car to behold the splendor.  At once,  I called my mom and said,  ”I’m in a storybook! This looks like every fairytale!”   I hung up with her and we made our way an hour prior to check-in to the hacienda.  The staff offered us lemon bars made with lemon juice from their own trees.  Divine!   Then, because we were early to this destination and had yet to eat lunch,  our concierge called a quaint spanish eatery  in the heart of Montecito.   “Mr & Mrs Mc. are in town from Little Rock.  I am sending them your way.  Could you please seat them by the fireplace?  I know you will take extra special care of them”  We arrived and they did take extra special care of us.

The Hacienda

Back at the Ranch,  we were lead to our room beyond a teak arbor, up the rosemary, lavender steps.   Our bellman gave us the grand tour of the ammenties in our cottage room (including our personalized stationery)  and the directions of operation of  the fireplace, heated bathroom floors, and the fully stocked refreshment center.  California Olives, chips & salsa, pistachios, gourmet toffees,  a mini fridge stocked with diet coke.  (They knew me well).    All the goodies (excluding wine) were compliments of the house and restocked daily – or sooner – given my penchant for diet coke with a squeeze of fresh lime.

Our Ranch Room

I’m nearly embarrassed to admit, The Angler and I became squatters.   Once we reached San Ysidro, we did not leave the ranch the entire duration of our stay.    We toured the grounds.  We took naps.  After long, hot, AcquaDi Parma scented baths, we languished in thick terry robes beneath our Barefoot Dreams Blankets. We ordered rosemary lambchops  and mixed berry cobbler from the spectacular Stone House Restuarant on site and  ate them next to the fireplace in our room.  Handmade lavendar truffles with a fragrant herb and rose nosegay graced our pillows at bedtime. We enjoyed our morning omelettes and coffee on our private patio.  No places to see or times to get there.  The resort was our destination.   All in all,  the whole experience was a dream.  This is my happy place.

I’m not the only one who feels this way.  This week Travel + Leisure magazine named San Ysidro Ranch ” The Best Resort in the Continental US and Canada”. It is a well deserved distinction.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit,  I cannot recommend it enough.   Reservations can be secured online through their website www.sanysidroranch.com

From this tale, you may think The Angler and I are extravagant people.  In reality, we live a simple little life.   Sure, I may splurge on designer shoes every now and again. He may treat himself to another guitar.  We, as much as I hate to admit it, are rather frugal.   Which is why,  we are very thankful for the time we had at San Ysidro and cherish the memories.  We both agree  San Ysidro Ranch  is a luxury well worth every penny.    We look forward to returning in a few years.   Until then,  I see it in my dreams.

May you spend a few moments in your happy place in real life or in thought this weekend and while you do feel free to enjoy my dreamy playlist on the jukebox below.

Happy Weekend, Y’all!

{Dreamy Playlist:  Once Upon a Dream by Steve Tyrell;  Dream by Michael Buble;  Dream a Little Dream by  Diana Krall;  Dream by Priscilla Ahn;  I’ve Got Dreams to Remember by Otis Redding; Dreaming with a Broken Heart by John Mayer; A Kiss to Build a Dream on Steve Tyrell }

France has champagne.   Germany has beer.   Italy has wine.   The South,  well,  we have the most potent elixir of  them all…Sweet Tea.   Step into most any restaurant south of the Mason Dixon line and you are sure to find it on the menu.   In fact,  as part of an April Fool’s prank,  legislators in Georgia presented a bill in 2004 requiring any restaurant serving tea must serve Sweet Tea, and refusing to do so would result in a misdemeanor of  the code.   The bill never made it to vote, but the sentiment stands:  Sweet Tea is serious business.

Tea has a legendary status in the U.S. since we dumped  it in Boston Harbor in the late 1700′s — I do believe those leaves hitting the frigid northern waters was the first iced tea,  although the history books do not corroborate my hypothesis.   However, the recipe heralded as the first printed “sweet tea” recipe appeared in 1879 in a community cookbook  ”Housekeeping in West Virginia”  contributed by Marion Cabell Tyree.

“Ice Tea. – After scalding the teapot, put into it one quart of boiling water and two teaspoonfuls green tea. If wanted for supper, do this at breakfast. At dinner time, strain, without stirring, through a tea strainer into a pitcher. Let it stand till tea time and pour into decanters, leaving the sediment in the bottom of the pitcher. Fill the goblets with ice, put two teaspoonfuls granulated sugar in each, and pour the tea over the ice and sugar. A squeeze of lemon will make this delicious and healthful, as it will correct the astringent tendency.”

If like me, you read the recipe and thought , “Green Tea?! – That’s not at all how you do it”  Well,   green tea was the preferred tea of households until World War II, when rations made the more economical black tea, which we use today, more commonplace.   Growing up my grandmothers and mother always served sweet tea with all of our meals.    My grandmother would often sweeten to the point my dad would ask,  ”Did you stump your toe when you were adding the sugar”.  She made THE BEST iced tea.      The trick to delicious sweet tea, which my grandmother knew, is to add the sugar while the tea is still hot.   This allows super saturation of the sugar.   Sweetening after the tea is chilled can possibly be accomplished using simple syrup or artificial sweetener.  It’s impossible to achieve the proper sweetness if trying to add granulated sugar to the cold beverage.   You basically end up with a pretty little snowglobe of sugar and ice cubes.

The Proper Southern Sweet Tea Recipe

3 Family size tea bags – ( I prefer Luzianne)
2 Cups of cold water
1 Cup of sugar

Place the two cups water in a saucepan or teapot and add the tea bags. Bring to a boil, do not continue boiling.

Remove from heat and let steep. Pour warm tea into empty pitcher. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Fill remaining pitcher with cold water.

If that is just too much work for a relaxing beverage,  there are some great ready-made options waiting in your grocer’s chiller in gallon jugs. In fact, my favorite is a no-calorie option that lets me indulge without the guilt- Milo’s Sweet Tea sweetened with Splenda.  Milo’s was introduced to Little Rock and other southern markets  last summer.  It’s been an Alabama favorite since the 1940′s.  Their company history is worth a read. ( Not to mention it is certified as  a woman owned company)   The taste is amazingly crisp and  one would never guess it is (hush yo mouth) sweetened with splenda.

www.milostea.com

Now if you love sweet tea so much, you, like me, think you can bathe in it,   well guess what –  you can!   Elizabeth W.  Indulgences from San Francisco makes a line of sweet tea body wash, lotion, bath salts, and home fragrances to. die. for.

Starting mid May until Labor Day,  I soak away my summer days in a tub full of the Elizabeth W Sweet Tea Bath Salts, followed by a good slather or Sweet Tea Body Cream.   The aroma is “gracious, spirited, elegant. An enticing marriage of oriental black teas, juicy fresh Amalfi lemons, and the sweetness of almond honey”.

www.elizabethw.com

ANd if you think,  ”this tea is so delicious, I could eat it with a spoon”,  again you are in luck.    Martha Hall Foose,  a great southern culinary /storytelling wonder,  has a cookbook just for you.   This gorgeous book is riffled with stories of the south and recipes that would make a “bulldog hug a hound and a preacher lay his Bible down”.  In other words,  they are yummy!   Especially her Sweet Tea Pie Recipe which makes purchasing the book well worth it.

I would be remiss, if I did not disclose perhaps the greatest beverage discovery since… well sweet tea.   For those of you who like a little more sass in your sweet tea,  let me introduce you to my friend Jeremiah Weed.     JW is well  known among the Air Force for his bourbon.  Last summer,  he became quite a hearthrob amongst my  southern girlfriends when he created Jeremiah Weeds Sweet Tea Vodka. Adding 1 1/2 ounces Sweet Tea Vodka to 6-8oz of lemonade makes a fun, delicious cocktail.  Served with a wedge of lemon in a crystal ice tea goblet, I’m convinced Carrie Bradshaw can keep her cosmo.

Lastly,  if I haven’t given you enough reason to enjoy a cool refreshing beverage,   tea contains antioxidants that have been linked to improved immunity against diabetes, cancer, and arthritis.  A slice of lemon ( the asorbic acid) helps increase the antioxidant absorption.    So what are waiting for,  it’s the weekend.  Kick off those manolos, sit a spell,  and relax with a hot bath and ice cold sweet tea  (vodka optional)

Cheers y’all!

P.S.

~ Enjoy a little music by listening to my sweet tea playlist below

Once upon a time there was a fair lady who adored the frillier things in life.

she dined on ruffle cake

served on frilly plates

set on ruffled tables.

she sunbathed in a ruffled suit.

she kicked back in her jeans and ruffled shirt.

she attended parties in her frilly dress…

where she liked to kick up her ruffled heels.

After tons of fun, she would take a hot bath and slip into her ruffled chemise

and fall into her ruffled bed

and read her ruffled bedtime story.

Then she would close her day with a prayer,

“Lord, thank you for all the ruffled things in life. May my feathers never be one of them”