QUIET CREATIVITY { FLASHBACK FRIDAY }

What a quiet, uneventful week it was... and frankly, I just couldn't be happier about this fact, except that it sure makes for a ho-hum Friday Flashback. Read on if you're caffeinated.

I started the week by cutting into one of my fingernails while shaving my legs. It's amazing what a Schick Quattro's four blades can do to a slow guide-hand that gets in the way. What can I say? I've worn tips for the past ten years, so I'm not used to having to worry about fragile, natural nails. (Well, and I've set the bar pretty high for clumsy. In fact, I think my clumsiness might be a good reason to forego the shellac in favor of tips.) This nail is hideous and will probably take forever to grow out. Ugly, ugly. On Tuesday, I became "naturally blonde" again. I've finally found someone in Little Rock who can do blonde... it took some trial and error, but I'm pleased with the result. But since I look like a crack head this week (see my prior post, Bonking), I am only posting the hair color. My personal upkeep completed, it was time to focus on to business matters. It's no secret how much I enjoy the creative aspects of my job. The company Halloween card has been in the works for a few weeks, and design is now final. It's nothing earth-shattering, but I am very pleased! It's a standard (A7 size) greeting card that flips open from the bottom. It will be delivered in an orange envelope with a business-appropriate greeting inside and a marketing blurb and logo on the back. And since work put me in the mood for decorating at home, I did a run to TJ Maxx and to Hobby Lobby to supplant my fall decor. Thanks to my Grandma's generous gift card on my birthday last month, I had extra money to blow. The dining room and entry hall are complete. Next weekend, the pumpkin patch will open... I'm so ready to do the front porch! In the meantime, I'm sure enjoying this:
And that, friends, is how you get from ugly to pretty in just five days. Thank goodness we got away from the ugly and landed on the pretty in time for the first day of autumn!

BYE, SUMMER! { FRIDAY FLASHBACK }

Ahhh, yes. The weather is finally starting to change in Little Rock. Though the days are still quite warm, the humidity is easing and there's a definite hint of fall crispness in the air. My favorite time of year is right around the corner! The anticipation stirs my creativity, fueling a desire to decorate, cook and be a more domestic version of Julie than my idle summer self. Answering the call, I started the week by whipping up an autumn treat: a healthier variation on baked apples. They were de. light. ful.
And since I'm back in a healthier mode, I did a lot of walking outdoors this past week. What a nice surprise it was to find two fawns lounging alongside the Little Rock ramp of Big Dam Bridge. This is the same spot where I photographed the bobcat in the past. It makes me ask what other creatures I'm missing while walking with my head in the clouds and my nose in my iPhone. It's a reminder that wonder is everywhere if we just take time to notice.
Yet another sign of the waning summer was actually being able to open the windows and let the fresh air circulate throughout the house for the first time in months. As if turning off the AC wasn't treat enough, the perfect compliment to airing out the house was lighting all of my fall-scented candles. The new caramel candied pecan was an unexpected favorite. It put me in the mood to remove my summer piece from the front door and replace it with something more seasonal. I purchased this at the UAMS Cancer Institute gift shop this week when I went to weigh-in. Judging from the smile on this guy's face, I'd say he's almost as happy as I am about the coming season. Yep. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful fall friendship.