The (Ri)Charmed Life: Florida

Showing posts with label Florida. Show all posts

India on my Mind

It is hot. Florida mostly is so this is no surprise. Still, my mind always goes to India when it's hot like this. It's the hottest place I've ever been. While I definitely remember the sweat, I can't help but also think about how bright and beautiful it can be.

At a wedding in Bangalore

I've created an Etsy treasury of some of my favorite Indian pieces. Click here to see it.

This awesome bag is from Seven Billion Buddhas.

Gorgeous photograph by LK Phipps available at their Etsy Shop

Isn't this mirrored and embroidered wall hanging versatile?! From Hunter Gatherer

posted under bangalore, etsy, Florida, hot, hunter gatherer, India, Indian, LK Phipps, photography, purse, sari, seven billion buddhas, textile, travel, treasury, wedding | 3 Comments

Souvenirs

Souvenirs... Maybe it's where I live (Clearwater, FL), but when I think of souvenirs, I think of one of those tacky, neon-lit shops that can be found in any big beach town in the US. Vintage mementos are just so much cooler. When I travel, I usually ignore the obvious tourist traps and look for something that's useful and beautiful to me. I would guess that a third of my Etsy shop listings feature items that were brought back to the US as a souvenirs.
Here are a few of my current offerings- no bad t-shirts or bored sales clerks! Click on the captions if you're interested in more information.

"Roma Basilica de S Pietro"

"Lancashire, England"

One last "Florida" one!

posted under Atlantic City, Austria, Cape Cod, clearwater, England, etsy, Florida, Innsbruck, Karlovy Vary, Lancashire, mementos, Roma Basilica de S Pietro, souvenirs, TheRicharmedLife, tourists, vintage | 1 Comments

Mini Gorey

My son was feeling this vintage cape this morning. He thought it went rather well with the camo rain boots. It's a bit warm for August in Florida though, so we may have to shelf the look for later in the year. While Juju was tromping around in this, I couldn't help but think of dear Mr. Gorey.

posted under august, boots, camo, camouflage, cape, clothing, edward gorey, Florida, fur, hot, Juju, Julian, Mini, rain, style, vintage | 0 Comments

Suncoast Primate Sanctuary

As much as I can, I'm trying to make sure Julian doesn't feel neglected with the new baby around. For the last couple years, I'd intended on checking out the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, so when I heard some of my girlfriends were heading there, we definitely had to go. It's not a zoo and doesn't have a zoo's budget. It is a place for animals that have no where else to go. It's all outdoors and while the cages are very clean, the dirt paths are not. It took us about an hour to go through. We probably would have stayed longer if it wasn't so hot. I would recommend a visit here- just know it's not a zoo and you aren't going to see the animals in natural habitats and you do want to bring sun block and bug spray. The volunteers are great though and the animals are healthy and entertaining.

Chimpanzees

There's also a collection of alligators and turtles. Julian isn't big on alligators as you can see from his response!

This little boy-monkey was loose in the bamboo.

Our own little Jane Goodall slept through the whole thing.

Julian & Aaron taking in all the parrots

This gorgeous orangutan was really alert and watchful. He kept moving to where people were.

Of all the cool things in the sanctuary, the boys, of course, were most interested in this stagnate rock pond.

Out side the bird cages

Tortoises


The loudest monkey in the place!

Today is Jason's birthday, so after gobs of hand sanitizer, we met him for lunch.

Julian's still pretty much in monkey mode!

posted under alligator, animals, bamboo, birds, birthday, day trip, Florida, Jane, Jason, Julian, monkey, orangutan, parrots, steak n' shake, Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, tortoises | 0 Comments

Swamp Things

July 25th-

Back to the Museum! Today it was all about pretending to be cool things.


Ship Captain Juju

Fire Chief Julian

July 24th-

Still hot and muggy- at least Jane's got a lot of light weight little cotton dresses. This one is Koala Baby and has pink embroidery and smocking- classic!

July 23rd-

I love the decor in my house- until I have to dust and de-cobweb it all! I'm hopelessly behind and, in this swampy warm house with no air conditioning, not feeling much like even trying to catch up!

posted under asian, Chinoiserie, cleaning, dress, fireman, Florida, Glazer Children's Museum, hot, humid, Jane, Juju, Julian, make believe, pilot, pretending, ship, swampy | 0 Comments

For the Love of Clearwater Exhibit

My jewelry is featured! Check it out at the main Clearwater Library downtown, now until September 13th.

posted under art, clearwater, exhibit, Florida, for the love of clearwater, jewelry, library, main, Richarme Jewelry Designs, show | 0 Comments

Two Favorites

July 21-

Oh, yes, please! This is my favorite wine. (And the kitchen curtains mum & I finally got made up!)

July 20-


Saturday night bath- this was a compromise from what he wanted me to take a picture of! Silly boy...

posted under bath, curtains, favorite, Florida, Juju, Julian, Keel & Curley, nudist, Saturday night, sweet blueberry, wine, winery | 0 Comments

The First Touch Mission Fashion Show Exclusive

September 24th~ One of the best parts of having my own business is being able to support good causes. I donate every year to the Bay AreaPregnancy Center and Links of Hope. I get approached by other charities as well and I always pick a few to donate product to.

This Saturday this set will be in an auction benefiting The First Touch Mission & Hope House. My sister-in-law works with this group and asked if I'd be part of their fundraiser. It's actually going to be a fashion show accompanied by the auction.

The First Touch Mission helps women transitioning from prison to freedom improve their chances of success and greatly reduce their chances of returning. The Hope House provides alternative placement for women being released from the Florida Prison System. First Touch is committed to helping women break old patterns and setting them on a path to becoming productive contributors of society. What a great, and desperately needed, program!

posted under Bay area pregnancy center, business, charitable giving, charity, donate, fashion, Florida, fundraising, Hope House, Links of Hope Network, prison, show, support, The First Touch Mission, women | 2 Comments

Pumking!

from September 17, 2012~ One word- Pumking! Fall is so almost here and I haven't had anything pumpkin yet. I made cinnamon sugar cookies yesterday and that's been the closest to autumn food I've had this year. We had our book club tonight. We meet at Brew Garden. When I walked up, Amber had this gorgeous round glass filled with a rich copper-orange beverage and rimmed with cinnamon and sugar. I had to have one... enter the Pumking! It's a pumpkin ale that taste great on it's own, but paired with that cinnamon and sugar- amazing! I feel like I showed great restraint in limiting myself to 2. That's going to be my drink this fall. And I'm not that much of a drinker so that means I'll probably only end up having it a couple times more before it disappears. Still, here in Florida we cling to signs of other seasons and this just made my night, oh, and the great book discussion. =P (It was an apocalypse type book. Our conversation was disturbing and animated enough to elicit a comment from a nearby table. Success!)

posted under ale, apocapypse, autumn, beer, book, book club, brew garden, cinnamon, cookies, drink, fall, Florida, food, pumking, pumpkin, rimmed, seasons, sugar | 0 Comments

Debby

June 24, 2012~

Back step view

I woke up this morning to what I thought was a typical Florida downpour. Somehow I hadn't watched any news since before we left on our trip, so I had no idea we were getting hit by a tropical storm. It even has a name: Debby. And, through the day, she has grown into a real... witch of a storm. Our group we usually go to Sunday evenings has been cancelled so we're just going to hole up the rest of the day. At this point, it wouldn't be safe to be out driving around anyway. At least we still have power and are not in a flood zone!

posted under cancellations, Debby, Florida, hurricane, inclement, rain, shower, storm, Tropical, weather, yard | 1 Comments

Strawberry Pie

Monday, March 12, 2012~

I'm hearing from a lot of people that the Strawberry Festival was disappointing this year. I have to admit it's been awhile since I've been. I remember there being big concerts, tons of food stands, pageantry, antique dealers, crafters, cute little animals, rides... It was fun and delicious! We'd roll out of there stuffed full of strawberry shortcake, big smiles on our faces, and pints of the best berries to eat on for days. Now I'm hearing that there isn't many food choices or lots of animals or much to do. That's kind of sad. Still, the yummy berries remain. My friend Karen use some to make scrumptious strawberry pies- Georgia style, like my grandma use to make. She was kind enough to give us one. It's soooo good and brings back good memories.

posted under fair, festival, Florida, Georgia, pie, strawberry | 0 Comments

Still Green

Sunday, February 19th~


Taken just this week in our lush and verdant yard, click on the photo for more info about the vintage souvenir platter

Jason is back and Julian is behaving and I had a great day at church so all is well and as it should be. It was freakishly warm again today. I know we chose to live in Florida and with that comes warm weather and not many seasonal changes, but I do look forward to how cold January/February usually is. I like that we get at least one change. This year though, it's been warm and murky. I don't want that in February! I shouldn't complain though, the electric bill has been a little lower. I just want to wear my cute red coat again this season!

PS I just won the contest at The Creative Coastie Wife! =D

posted under coat, cold, contest, Florida, freakish, home, hot, lush, weather, winner | 0 Comments