Aficiones de Vida

Welcome to a new month – and spring! – with plenty of mysteries, thrillers, and true crime to read. Once again there is something for every reading taste – and a ton for readers who read it all! In the true crime department, there’s a focus on violence against Native American women in America and the rise and fall of D.C. Stephenson, who controlled Indiana through the Ku Klux Klan. There’s a mystery/horror novel with tribal folklore, the final-for-now book in the Ruth Galloway series (do not shoot the messenger), and fan favorite Megan Miranda has a new tale with the trope of “something bad happened in high school and now those students are reunited for something bad to happen again.” Domestic suspense fans have a full dish: a “perfect life” woman is found dead at the bottom of her stairs, and now secrets will come out; a British Pakistani actress is definitely hiding something, but is it murdering her husband?; and a couple sp...

Veteran trumpeter Derrick Gardner took his long-standing Jazz Prophets sextet on a five-week tour through the West African country of Ghana last summer. The trip provided the inspiration and thematic basis for the band’s current release, Pan Africa. There’s little aural evidence, however, of concrete African influence in the album’s nine tracks, five of which

Three features in one day today! Whiskies from Caol Ila, Ledaig and Williamson today. A three feature set this week from Loch Fyne Whiskies! Single casks from Caol Ila (Islay), Ledaig and Laphroaig (Williamson), all bottled at cask strength and presented in their natural states. All very potent whiskies from the west coast that are distinctive in character and have some very interesting scents and tastes. Please enjoy the reviews and head over to Loch Fyne Whiskies to check out the range. https://youtu.be/ZyooxRq_djw https://youtu.be/IpvT8cUyhp0 https://youtu.be/GhMuljutdzw

Have you ever wanted to paint a chimney lamp? Or even had the thought? I didn’t – until now! These are also known as a hurricane lamps (there is a difference and I’ll get into that!). Here is how it came about: Patrick and I set up a fabulous backyard scene on our patio, complete with twinkling lights strewn across the trees, and solar lights anchored by the huge nopal cacti we have. Then a monsoon/haboob rolled in and ripped out one of the trees in our lovely landscape. We went to the home improvement store afterwards to buy items to fix the backyard. While there, I came across two things I had never noticed before: chimney lamps and umbrella lights. And just like that, I came up with an EPIC idea! Painted chimney lamps! There are so many possibilities, you can paint portraits, flowers, patterns and the light will shine through beautifully. The technique I chose for this project was making the lamp look like stained glass, and then I added puffy pain...

It’s not news that life is very busy for everyone these days. Between work, family obligations, housekeeping, general life maintenance, working towards goals, scheduling social events, the list goes on and on—one might feel overwhelmed, overworked, and stressed out. I get it and often feel the same, though what I do to alleviate the pressure might seem counter-intuitive to some. But crafting stress relief is real — and I’m excited to share it with you! Finding the Time I work hard to carve out time for yet another activity! Whaaaat?! Why?! Because creative work, where I make something tangible with my own hands, is fulfilling and calming in a way that all my other obligations are not. When everything in my life is pulling me in different directions, focusing on my craft helps pull those disparate parts back together. For me, at this point in my life, it’s quilting, but I’ve always had a creative outlet of one kind or another (though it’s always something that uses both my ha...

In a stylish journey to Carvoeiro, Portugal, Todd Snyder unveils its newest styles from its spring 2023 collection, enlisting the talents of the dashing actor and model Andres Velencoso. This beautiful coastal town, with its mesmerizing cliffs, coves, and azure waters, sets the stage for an unforgettable fashion experience. The charming whitewashed buildings adorned with terracotta roofs perfectly complement the brand’s newest offerings. Andres Velencoso for Todd Snyder As Andres explores the sun-soaked landscape, he is immersed in the delicate scents of sea salt and local flora that permeate the air. The creative duo of Kenny Thomas and Jim Moore capture and curate this enchanting atmosphere, with Thomas behind the camera and Moore handling styling. Exploring the streets of Carvoeiro, Andres dons the latest must-haves from the Todd Snyder collection: modern chinos, leisure shirts, cashmere pocket tees, sports coats, and linen shirts. These pieces exude an effortless sophist...

Have you ever wanted to paint a chimney lamp? Or even had the thought? I didn’t – until now! These are also known as a hurricane lamps (there is a difference and I’ll get into that!). Here is how it came about: Patrick and I set up a fabulous backyard scene on our patio, complete with twinkling lights strewn across the trees, and solar lights anchored by the huge nopal cacti we have. Then a monsoon/haboob rolled in and ripped out one of the trees in our lovely landscape. We went to the home improvement store afterwards to buy items to fix the backyard. While there, I came across two things I had never noticed before: chimney lamps and umbrella lights. And just like that, I came up with an EPIC idea! Painted chimney lamps! There are so many possibilities, you can paint portraits, flowers, patterns and the light will shine through beautifully. The technique I chose for this project was making the lamp look like stained glass, and then I added puffy pain...

Today’s bride Debby is a wedding photographer herself, so planning her wedding to Richard was a joy… and a challenge! She said, “Being a wedding photographer, I knew what I wanted and what I didn’t. And while she had joked that she did wanted a courthouse wedding, her sweet husband-to-be knew she actually wanted a full celebration. So in front of 40 of their closest family and friends, these two said “I do” in their favorite oak tree-filled park in Richard (and mine, by the way!) hometown of Mobile! Y’all know I’m always partial to weddings in Mobile, but Debby and Richard’s does not even need my favoritism, its sweetness speaks for itself. And while they opted out of that courthouse wedding, be sure to keep reading because Richard gave Debby a courthouse proposal instead! Thanks to Elizabeth Gelineau for sharing! What was your favorite detail from your wedding? One was my rings. Richard purchased the center oval stone for my engagement ring then paired i...