Let Your Feet Do The Talking!

We have all heard the famous sayings, "shoes can make or break an outfit," or " you can never have too many shoes." I am a firm believer in these two "golden rules!" Well look no further for cuteness, comfort, and convenience (one stop shop for your fashion needs). Em and Sprout have created "shoes for grown ups." That's right, these whimsical mary jane's are for ladies only! Dress them up or dress them down, wear them in or wear them out, walk a little or walk a lot. With a vast array of colorful, original mary jane designs and a huge range of sizes the options are unlimited.

Time to treat your tootsies!

http://www.emandsprout.etsy.com/

Scent This!

Isn't it funny how with each season (at least in my home) there is a certain flavor or scent associated with it. Spring to me brings to mind fresh linen, summertime sparkling lemon, winter a sweet cranberry orange or crisp pine (both of which send my husband into an instant asthma attack!), and fall is an absolute given...PUMPKIN! Pumpkins can represent so many different things and are traditionally carried over throughout the fall months. Jack-o-lanterns, cornucopias, pumpkin pie, lip balm?

A Breath Of French Air has created not only an Iced Pumpkin Vegan Soy Wax Candle but a Pumpkin Spice Lip Balm. Only fresh ingredients are used to whip up this tantalizing lip treat...cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin. Why not treat your lips (not your hips) to a freshly baked pumpkin pie?

There are too many adorable things in this shop to list but here are a few of my favorites:

• Sweet Little Pumpkin Guest Soaps
• The 4 ounce tins used for the soy wax candles. Not only does the size make them ideal for travel but the tin (after candle burning is complete) can be used to store misc. trinkets.
• Peppermint scented "Honey I Can't Find My Teeth-Denture Soap."

A Breath Of French Air offers a complete selection of soaps, candles, sugar scrubs, lotions, and lip balms in a variety of different scents to carry you through every season...whatever your flavor preference!

http://www.abreathoffrenchair.etsy.com/

Fabulous Friday Finds

Every tree deserves a leaf, every child deserves a kiss, every apple deserves peanut butter (a delicious Fall snack), every cup deserves a cozy.

ALittleXtraSomething has definitely put her own creative twist on her "Beverage Cozies." These are not only handmade in adorable prints ranging from sports teams to seasons but they are adjustable. Use them on a hot or cold beverage...even a WINE GLASS :)! These are eco-friendly, very affordable, and can be made custom to suit your fancy.

Are you warming up to the idea of a steaming hot (maybe cold if you're warm blooded), frothy (or not!), sweet (atleast I prefer), cup o' _________??? I don't know...you fill in the blank with your favorite and don't forget the cozy .

http://www.alittlextrasomething.etsy.com/

Favorite Fall Project

Home from Jacksonville, FL. and sadder than sad leaving my BFF. I had a fabulous time and actually found that I completed quite a few projects. Encase you are wondering, my entire carry on was filled with different yarns, crochet hooks (shocked that TSA allows these), fabrics, embroidery floss...absolutely crazy and heavy! There definitely was a method to my madness, though. Before departing, I had picked up my first crochet magazine, Crochet! (Fall 2009). I studied it from cover to cover and actually found several projects that really interested me. Amongst these were the felted tea pot coasters.

Well with a serious crash crochet course, we were able to knock out nine of these beauties (between the two of us) over the course of 2 evenings! We looked like two ole "bitties" sitting on the couch, watching football, sharing a pattern sheet (God forbid we make an extra copy), matching crochet hooks in hand, eating lemon squares between rows (often times losing track). Good times, great laughs!

This is one of those projects that you just can't quit looking at once it is complete...just giddy inside with excitement and satisfaction.

TIP: Tie the handles together with a cute ribbon and pick up a box of AWAKE Tazo tea for a great holiday or anytime gift.

This blog post is coming straight to you from Jacksonville, Florida! I'm here visiting my very best friend (soul sister), Jennifer. Several weeks prior to my arrival, I was continually checking the weather often times giggling when I would see 84 degrees immediately followed by "but feels like 92." But the reality is, they aren't kidding! It feels more like 102. With that said, turn down the air conditioning and "think cold, think fall, think soup."

Jennifer's Minestrone Soup

1 T. olive oil

2 carrots

2 celery stalks (including leaves)

1 yellow onion

S and P (to taste)

2 t. italian seasoning

1 can of black beans (drained)

1 can of tomato paste

1 c. spaghetti sauce (she used Prego)

46-50 oz. of chicken stock

1/2 c. ditalini

Chop all of the vegetables (including celery leaves). Heat some olive oil in a dutch oven and saute the vegetables for about 3 minutes. Add spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, italian seasoning, black beans, and chicken stock. Simmer for about 15 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Finally, bring "sauce" to a boil and pour in the pasta (uncooked).

This masterpiece will be ready to devour in about 10 minutes. Is your mouth watering, yet? If it's not now, it will be while you are cooking it (or in my case watching her cook it)!

We finished off this delicious soup with yummy, tart lemon bars and a cappucino...a meal truly fit for two best friends :).

Aahhhhh...F-A-L-L! Much to my dismay, it seems to be arriving a bit slower this year but inevitable that it will eventually hit in full force. Brilliant colored leaves showering down on the streets, creative harvest decor beautifying the neighborhoods, the scent of "freshly baked" apple crisp scented candles permeating my home, cloudy days and cool rain, a cup of steaming hot tea with sweet clover honey and a shot of cream, sweatshirts in the morning and flannels in the evening, homemade soup that has been simmering on the stove top all day, a pure crispness in the air...these are a few of my favorite Fall things.

To celebrate the wonderful intensity of the season, for the remaining portion of September (I just couldn't wait any longer...it's wishful Fall thinking) and the entire month of October, I will be featuring recipes, crafts, clothing, ANYTHING that represents my "favorite things."

Let me first welcome you to Girl~Lee Goodz! I am thrilled to plunge into this very unfamiliar, yet extraordinary, adventure we call "blogging." Through this I hope to reach out and connect with readers on every different level imaginable. However, in order to achieve this broad objective it is only fair that I share my inner workings...my unprecedented passion (maybe obsession) with designing and creating sassy, OOAK, boutique clothing. You might have visions of "Project Runway" grandeur. Lights, models, camera, ACTION...back to the bedroom to sew in the corner! RIP Patrick Swayze but Baby is "in the corner." This is where my "magic happens..."