Late Night Surfing Inspires Me

While the house is quiet, I sneak away to explore one of my favorite websites.

RealSimple.com has so many interesting stories and tips, I feel inspired everytime I visit.
For instance, here is an interesting article: Summertime New Uses For Old Things.

These cute place cards are made from paintchip samples - cute and colorful!

I love to recycle and to create, so this article was just right for me!

What do you enjoy reading? What inspires you?

Enjoy your life - Give generously to those you love!

Blessings,
Theresa

Looking for a New Look!

Why is change so difficult?

When was the last time you decided to just step out of routine and change things up a bit?

For me, it seems often - as in hairstyles - or so I think! Funny thing is, every time I get a new
'fresh' cut, I seem to keep styling it the same as I have for years - so it really never looks that different!

I'm committing today to stop being such a creature of habit - to change my hair and NOT keep styling it the same! Yeah, we'll see how that goes...

Now the big question - do I go for layers, a bob, something trendy, short, long, medium?



Now I know why change is so difficult - too many choices!

Whatever changes you have going on in your life, big or small - easy or difficult - fun or serious, may they all be enriching times of growing and learning.

Blessings,
Theresa

Vintage!

Watch out!

You are not going to believe what's coming soon to Uptown Avenue!



Our vintage scouts have been working overtime (is shopping really working???)! We hope you enjoy the beautiful, tenderly cared for items we have acquired from yesteryear. Visit often and don't delay if you see something you love, because most of our vintage items are one-of-a-kinds and once they are gone...well, you get the picture!





Have a fun-filled day!
Theresa

Inspiration - Red Canoe collection

A little inspiration for today - I'm loving Stephanie's Red Canoe collection





Her entire Flickr photostream is inspirational.



PS: How cool is this panda bread?!

Tic Tac Toe, 3 birthdays in a row!

We're celebrating a lot of birthdays around here lately. Three in just nine days, actually!



We're living it up with breakfast in bed, lots of cupcakes, presents, days at the beach, birthday dinners out {getting embarrassed by singing servers}, and park days with friends!





Hope you're having a fabulous weekend too!

-Lex

It's a Wrap!

We ate a wonderful lunch at a new cafe the other day and I went home and tried to duplicate it - minus the mayo! Here's the recipe:

Ingredients: (adjust portions to your own tastes)

In a large bowl mix 1 cup plain yogurt with 3 TBS of honey (my substitution for the mayo!)



Add:

2 cups cooked, cubed chicken breast
1 apple, sliced and cubed
1 cup seedless grapes - cut in 1/2 or 1/3's
3/4 chopped walnuts
3/4 cup Craisins



Stir all together and spoon into a tortilla or pita!





Take to work, school or picnic in a stylish bento!



Bon Appetit!!
Theresa

P.S. Let me know how you like it :-)

What has designer Lex Leigh been up to lately?

Creating - New and wonderful expressions of art and style!
Updating - Presenting her new collection of fashion 'button' earrings!
Coordinating - Fabulous ways to attain her beautiful pieces!
Formulating - Inventive ways to keep her costs low and her quality high!

We are proud to announce that Lex Leigh designs are now available at Uptown Avenue!

What will Lex Leigh do next? Keep watching at UptownAvenue.com to stay at the top of her artistic trends! We Love, Love, Love Lex Leigh!


-Theresa

Zum Bars

Are you like the rest of us, finding the long hot days of summer are really taking it's toll on your skin? The dryness and rough patches from too much sun, chlorinated pools and sand - whew! There has to be a solution. Well, we've got just one word that will make your skin sing - Zum!



Time to give our bodies the pampering they deserve. Enjoy a refreshing spa bath with Zum products, including incredibly scented soaps to give your skin a lift with raw and wonderful moisturizers of goat’s milk, glycerin, vegetable oils, herbs and pure essential oils. Zum goat's milk soaps have low pH and are loaded with restorative and rejuvenating alpha-hydroxy acids, and luxuriant moisturizers.

We invite you to pamper yourself during these hot summer months. Check out our array of soaps, bath salts and lotions (we even have baby Zum to pamper your little ones!). Help make your skin the healthiest and happiest it's been all summer. Live life to its fullest - enjoy!

-Theresa

PS: My favorite scent is Almond! But I also adore the Tangerine Orange and Lime Basil -Lex

Quick Friday Update - Bibs!

I am loooving the new baby bibs we received in stock this month, and perfect timing for the many people we know who are expecting! Who wouldn't think that wipe-clean vinyl covered bibs are the just best?

And, they're handmade by featured artist Lisa D!



The lowdown - they're $10.50 and our free shipping lasts until July 31st, check them out!

Cheers!
-Lex

West Coast Wednesday - Oregon Wine

When we hear the words 'Wine Country' we usually think of California's Napa Valley, but Oregon's Willamette Valley is quickly becoming as well known as our southern sister wineries.



Oregon is a world-class wine state with 15 approved winegrowing regions and more than 300 wineries producing 72 varieties. We are blessed with some of the most diverse and beautiful wine-growing landscapes in the world. Beauty abounds in Oregon wine growing, from the soaring lands of the Columbia River Gorge to the Willamette Valley’s green, rolling hills to the high mountain valleys of Southern Oregon. There are some incredible sights to behold—and some incredible wines to taste.



In Oregon, our winemakers are farmers, families and environmental stewards who believe in high-quality artisan wine. In fact, most Oregon wineries are relatively small, producing on average just 5,000 cases a year. Oregon country roads are dotted with beautiful wine tasting rooms where you sit on large decks to sample a fragrant pinot noir or pinot gris while soaking in breathtaking views of the vineyard and lush landscapes beyond.