eos lip balms...

As a product junkie I am fully capable of admitting that packaging is a HUGE part of my selection process. If the packaging isn't cool or pretty I'll very rarely make the purchase.

I first tried eos {evolution of smooth} lip balm precisely because the packaging was so awesome. These spheres are colorful objet d'art with an effective, eco friendly moisture balm inside. The container is left very plain so there's no labeling to interfere with the design. Also, I loathe lip products that make me use my finger to apply {gag me with a spoon} so I was pleased to find the sphere was not a pot but the applicator itself.

My favorite formula is Sweet Mint, as I'm sure you can tell by the image above, but in the summer I also use the Lemon Drop version with SPF15.

Bonus: While I'm testing out laser hair removal at home I still have to shave. I've been using the eos paraben free pomegranate raspberry shave cream, which you can use dry or wet, as well as their beautifully packaged hand lotion.

Check out eos online by clicking....riiight...here!

Indiana Flower & Patio Show...

This weekend I visited the Indiana Flower & Patio Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds with extended family. I don't own a patio (or a home) so I wasn't all that excited at first but it turned out to be a pleasant day and I saw some cool things:

There's at least two of these round, red barns on the grounds and I think they're so beautiful. Fire & water seems to be the big trend in patios these days and this display was my favorite (sadly, my photo doesn't do it justice). I adore the smell of hyacinth and I think I stopped to sniff each arrangement. My son & I had lots of fun peeking through this steel hole in the wall.

This giant balloon rainbow greeted us upon arrival to the show. The flowers available for sale were so lush and the pavilion smelled lovely! We'll be planting a garden at my mother's house this spring and I'd like to divide the space like this grid to keep us organized. I fell head over heels for this hanging bed --- It made me really want to have a patio. 

These whisper thin, string spheres were marvelous and housed a light bulb in each...they'd look great over a dining table. I bought these peachy pink roses to brighten my home. This repurposed wine bottle fountain was a big hit with our group. I am really into air plants since they're pretty low maintenance. Hanging them in glass ornaments could be a terrific way for me to introduce more greenery into Chez Fox.

NWS in The Nash part 2

Day 2 in Nashville centered around the boy:

* The Frist - I was more than happy to visit The Frist Center for Visual Arts. I'd read about the extensive, hands on children's area but I also knew the building was a gorgeous example of Art Deco style which is a favorite of mine. The building was originally Nashville's main post office, built in the early 1930's. Walking the steps and into the main lobby was such a treat for me. We arrived to the upstairs children's area and while I was thrilled with the options the boy was a tad underwhelmed. He isn't so much artistic as he is passionate about trains and making loud noises and well, you can imagine the Frist didn't exactly cater to his desires.

* Old Union Station - This stunning building is now a hotel but the boy and I had a great time walking the main terminal (now the lobby) and then outside to gaze upon the commercial rail lines still active behind the building. We'll be staying at this hotel next time we visit Nashville in a room facing the west so we can see and hear the trains 24 hours a day...yippee!

* The Monkey's Treehouse - Gwyneth Paltrow's kids played here while she was shooting Country Strong (good enough for me) so we drove out to the 'burbs so the boy could run free and wild and...play with all the Thomas trains he already owns at home. Oh well, he had a blast and we stayed for hours...


* Phillip's Toy Mart - This 65 year old toy store is loved by all the locals and has Lionel trains set up and running so naturally we made this stop a priority. The boy acquired two new pull back engines and I bought some fizzy Hello Kitty candy that I enjoyed in my childhood. Above the working train set is a loft so kids can climb up and have a birds eye view of the tracks.

* Nashville's Broadway - The flashing lights and abundance of live music of Broadway are hard to ignore and while the strip may be a huge tourist trap walking the street, buying some cheesy souvenirs and eating at Mike's Ice Cream are must do activities. We had fun...we are, after all, tourists!







xx
JDF

festival of trees...

I love December, if for nothing else than the abundance of twinkle lights. I attended the Festival of Trees at the Embassy Theater in downtown Ft. Wayne this season and saw beautifully decorated trees by local companies and artists.

The decorated trees ranged from traditional to modern, many with a sense of humor. I loved the Star Wars tree embellished with Lightsabers as well as the Lego built tree adorned with colored lights!

I adore the Embassy for its grand beauty. It was a perfect backdrop for the event and is one of our city's jewels!

Prairie School...

Where is a girl supposed to keep her oh so stylish clothing, shoes and accessories?  In an oh so stylish home, of course!  For me, there are no homes as stylish as Prairie School or Usonian structures.  I am crazy for Prairie School architecture, particularly the Midwestern homes designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright.  The clean lines of his "organic architecture" are so stunningly beautiful to my eyes...

Since childhood, I have been obsessed with one home in particular right here in Fort Wayne, designed by Francis Barry Byrne, one of Wright's students.  I drive by the home as much as possible, imagining what the inside looks like and if the owners cherish every day spent there.

There is an actual Frank Lloyd Wright house in southwest Fort Wayne but that's another post for another day and another website.



I dream of living in a Prairie School home some day...maybe even one of Mr. Wright's homes...after all, what good is a dream if it isn't BIG?