Glamorous and recent treasures at Re-Runs in Westport of Kansas City. Oooohlalaaaaaa…..No words are necessary; just look and enjoy! The displays are always so eye-catching. Then, you learn about the origin of many of the items when you speak with Ken; the informative proprietor. Ken has a real passion for vintage fashion.

I find items for myself and also great gift ideas! Think of the uniqueness a vintage clutch as a graduation gift, Mother’s Day gift or pick-me-up for a friend. Recently, my friend and I spent quite some time in Re-Runs studying all of the items. She found cuff links for her son;  quite handy for the orchestra musician! She also found a fabulous wool cape—reversible, in fact! How excited were we when she found this and wore it that winter night out on the town!

Theme parties need vintage items. My college sons have found great things here.

Personally, I love studying the details of the era of an item, colors that were in style then, cuts of the clothing, etc…

I get a certain energy from the accessories and jewelry. Sometimes, that’s all an outfit needs.If you have a passion for fashion, your treasures from Re-Runs will augment your collection and “zhush” up your wardrobe….or at least impress your gift recipients!

Re-Runs is for sale. If you are interested in buying this business, contact the owner.  Website and info below.

http://re-runs.com

 

 

 

Lawrence, Kansas is known for its well-loved, well-known University of Kansas …but did you know it has several blocks of impressive and distinct historic homes? This pocket of historic architecture even has a few cobblestoned streets still beautifully intact. I love driving up and down the neighborhood of these unique homes ranging from the following styles:

• Folk-Victorian
• Queen Anne
• English cottage
• Craftsman
• Colonial Revival
• Italian Renaissance
• Victorian Baroque
• simple Utilitarian Frontier
• Vernacular style of early 1860’s.

I learned about these homes when we first toured KU and discovered there’s a walking tour with pamphlet about the homes. Because of the winter weather, we did a driving tour instead. Each home is so uniquely different from the other.

In preserving the integrity of the neighborhood, the residents were inspired to petition that the city did not replace the original paved streets. The latter enhances this area even more and really impressed us as we drove around taking pictures.

 

There are 12 city blocks which make up this area called Old West Lawrence Historic District. The charm of these homes could not be ruined by the dreary day and weather conditions.

When Quantrill’s Raid in 1860 ransacked a large area of Lawrence and burned a large area to the ground, this quaint city lost many of its historic homes. A link is attached below explaining Quantrill’s Raid an Quantrill’s Raiders. This led me to the discovery of the term “Jayhawker”. I know KU’s mascot is the Jayhawk but I never knew why. Read the link below on jayhawkers.

Whether you know this Civil War and period history or not, you should enjoy a drive- by or walking tour of these historic homes and just appreciate the visual beauty of the integrity of the area. The restoration and preservation efforts of its residents is admirable. “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!”

http://www.civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/quantrill’s-raid-lawrence

http://www.civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/jayhawkers

Some great destinations are right outside your door. We found ourselves at the Guthrie Green one day over Christmas Break in search of a food truck. My college sons’ appetites led us there. We didn’t find the food truck but we strolled around in the nice weather to see what new places have popped up since the last time we were there. Taverns, boutiques and so many wonderful murals! We weren’t the only ones enjoying the Guthrie Green in downtown Tulsa! A couple of skateboarders wowed me with their tricks. I thought one of them was a friend of ours and I called out his name….but it wasn’t our friend! However, the boys were happy to entertain me with their skateboard skills.

While they were maneuvering through their skateboard-choreography, a family picnic was going on in the background.  How nice it is to see downtown Tulsa alive and active again! Museums, food trucks, a ballpark, bars, chocolatiers, a violin shop, a brewery, etc..SO different from even a few years ago. The First Friday Art Crawl with street artists and musicians was one of my favorite summer activities of downtown Tulsa but it’s not only limited to summertime. Put it on your list and enjoy a restaurant afterwards.

 

 

All of the art galleries come alive even more during the art crawl. What a great free event this is –full of culture and entertainment.

 

 

 

A downtown stroll during Christmas Break gave me an opportunity to watch “downtown boys” being active and in search of fun. Two of them were my own sons! …..

After we watched these fearless skateboarders a little while more, we were ready for a coffee break. We never found the food truck but we found a delightful downtown day in our very own Tulsa.We didn’t have to travel far to enjoy an interesting urban area with historic architecture and lively people. The “gypsy family travelers” even found an ironic spot to enjoy a coffee break when my sons and I went over to Gypsy Coffee House for an espresso.

The hip murals of Downtown Tulsa are recent additions which have been very exciting for a native Tulsan, like me, to see. Their hip, casual vibe balances the grandeur of our stately Art Deco buildings and architecture.

Downtown tours listed in link below.

http://www.toursoftulsa.com

Cool aerial view from a drone in the video below.

all photos by Gina Kingsley

 All the senses are engaged when you visit an Orthodox church or attend a liturgy. Orthodox churches include Greek,Serbian, Russian, American, Antiochian, Romanian, Albanian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Carpatho-Russian, Armenian, etc.

Some are simple; others grand. The iconography can range from Eastern to Western, Byzantine to African touches. This article shows interiors of small Orthodox churches and a cathedral.

Sight. The iconography of the church draws you into the visual details.

Sound. The hymns, the cantors, the choir, the communal signing engages you in the liturgy.

Smell. The incense, occasional florals, etc. are the aromas…

Touch. The feel of the velvet cloth you hold under your chin as you receive communion and the sign of the cross as you touch your forehead and chest are examples of touch. Also, the heat of the candle light from a  candle is a sense of touch in your worship time.

Taste. Communion and Antidoron bread are the tastes at Communion that symbolize Christ’s body and blood.The imagery is endless. I can see the same icons and images weekly for decades in my own church but interpret new details from them on different occasions. When I visit other churches, I am mesmerized with the details of different iconography there. Some styles are westernized, some are authentically Byzantine. No matter what the style, they all evoke the same feelings of worship when we’re in church.

© Gina Michalopulos Kingsley; photos by Gina. (taken of churches in Tulsa, Kansas City and Dallas)

If you want to be a free subscriber to this blog, enter your email address in the field below at the bottom of this blog. Attached is a link to a travel book I’ve written, available on Amazon and at various stores in Tulsa.  Proceeds go to charity. https://www.amazon.com/dp/069271393X/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

 

More winter coping rituals (Hygge) have been collected to get us thinking positively about this season. If you’ve read the blog “Winter Coping Rituals …Hygge”, you’re already familiar with this Danish concept of spending the winter season by “creating a warm atmosphere and imagining good things in life with people”. I’ve collected more Hygge rituals to share:

read more books while you’re “hibernating“. While there’s less time in the summer with the extended evening time being spent on outings, sporting  events, summer concerts, etc…..there’s more time in the winter to “curl up with a good book.”keep a wine journal! Taste and rate different bottles of wine. Wine tasting parties go well with fireplaces and cheese pairings.pedicures might not be common during the winter because we are all covered up and bundled up but a pop of color on your toesies will elevate your mood when you’re taking bubblebaths or doing yoga. Plus, the free massage chair is a perk. Schedule double pedis so you can sit side by side with a friend and chit chat.

cook casseroles and freeze them! This heats up your kitchen and you can have them stored up for weeks and months ahead. Take one to a shut-in or surprise your neighbor with one.

go cocoon at Big Cedar Lodge. There are good deals and discounts during the winter months (I’ve received email updates on these). Plan a girls’ trip, go on hikes, cocoon by the fireplace and watch movies. You can check DVDs out from the reception area. Enjoy a big feast and sing songs with the cowboy in the Buzzard Bar. Enjoy the hot tub. Play poker.

walk through the Philbrook gift shop to enjoy truly unique books, coffee table books, art and travel books.

visit Gilcrease Museum. Have lunch with a friend in the Vista room.

eat more citrus! A huge platter of tangerines and oranges will remind you to snack on these Vitamin C treats. It cuts down on snacking and increases your vitamin C which is important in the winter. Cuties and tangelos are my favorites!

host a “leftovers party”. On the day after Christmas or New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day feasts, host a casual leftovers party. It keeps the celebrations going and cleans out your fridge. Turkey sandwiches! Make it easy with paper plates and cups.

get caught up on photo books. Admit it—you are currently 3 years behind on this. The digital ones are so easy to do. Get caught up while you are hibernating.

repurpose a room. Rearrange furniture. Some people do this to showcase their fireplace more in the winter. If you’re going to be inside so much more because of the winter, you might as well feel like you’re in a new space!

plan a crock pot party. Make a cute invitation inviting people to bring their favorite crock pot dish over for a party. Plug them all in on your kitchen counter or kitchen island. If they use crock pot liners, the “clean up” part is super easy and they’ll take a clean crock pot home! Crock pot parties are perfect for watching the Super Bowl together —which is only a few weeks away. Plan ahead for a Super Bowl of “soup-er bowl” crock pot food!

plan upcoming vacations now! Search for good deals/ vacation packages. Plan ahead.

if you’re not all shopped-out or you want to take advantage of after-Christmas sales, plan a get-away trip and enjoy the holiday decor. Or just go for a food extravaganza and enjoy many restaurants.

(this photo above from internet)

Winterfest!— having an ice skating rink downtown in Tulsa  is something to celebrate! We had a tradition with our cousins to go there on Christmas Eve, alternated with going to Señor Tequilas afterwards! Families look forward to traditions.

Woolaroc Christmas Lights. Tulsans go to the usual places to see the lights–Rhema Bible College, Philbrook, Utica Square, etc…but have you made the road trip out to Bartlesville to see Woolaroc lit up for the holidays? Chandler Park is another festive place to see Christmas lights. While limo parties are fun ways to see the lights around Tulsa, plan a casual family night to drive to Woolaroc.

Altruism. If you’re discouraged by all of the consumerism and commercialism of Christmas, focus instead on the philanthropic spirit that goes on around you, too. Have coins handy for every Salvation Army kettle you come across and notice the collections going on. Sign your kids up or your family to ring the Salvation Army bell. Forego the Christmas card expense one year (to order the cards and mail them) and give that money to charity, instead.

Winter coping rituals–Hygge Part 1 link below:

http://www.gypsyfamilytravel.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=8248&action=edit

A good article on wellness….

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/g4066/31-day-happy-life-makeover/?slide=25&src=social-email

A Hygge event in OKC…..

http://www.okcmoa.com/visit/events/a-night-of-hygge/

Darker. Colder. Shorter days; longer nights. Cabin “fever”, hibernation…..how do people cope with the winter “blues” or Seasonal Affective Disorder?….all kinds of ways! Hygge is the Danish word for “creating a warm atmosphere and imagining the good things in life with people” or as I like to refer to it as “winter rituals”. My friend shared a great article with me about Hygge (link below) pronounced “hooga” and “higga”.

Other than the usual ways people celebrate the winter season, I asked people for unique ideas and rituals that make them either look forward to the season or cope with it. Here are some responses:

play Christmas carols on the piano a little bit every day to tickle the ivories again and practice your piano skills. Invite little kids over to  sing carols with you in preparation for Christmas dinner with the family.

exercise in new winter outerwear . Fast walking and talking with a friend helps the cold walk seem faster. Then, we retreat back into our warm homes looking forward to the fireplace.

wearing vintage fur hats to warm up in the house—may seem crazy but it definitely warms you up. Old homes are known for being cold and drafty.

many people edit their closets, pair outfits, accessorize them , make a dry cleaning pile and a donation pile. Edit and purge!

get out holiday books and read them to any young visitors who come over. They stay useful that way.

volunteer to organize your church’s Sunday School program (Xmas pageant, etc). This helps relieve teachers and directors from having to do it. It’s a nice way to thank them for their year round teaching, too.

invite a little kid or kids to come jump with you in your pile of leaves. Ecstasy!! take big, long, running jumps!

wear colorful scarves to brighten things up! Covering up the extremities–head, feet, neck, etc….really does warm you up! Long Johns help with this, too! Scarves feel better around your neck than metal necklaces which feel cold.

get out at daytime so night is not so bad. Run errands and don’t hibernate all day.

taking hot bubblebaths not only relaxes you but it’s a good way to catch up on reading and/or listening to favorite tunes. Plus, you’ll sleep like a log.

play more Scrabble with spouses or family members

get Christmas blend coffee to mix things up. The red bag on your counter is so festive, too. Just another reminder of the holidays.

ditto with the red container of Williams-Sonoma Hot Chocolate. Making homemade hot chocolate for guests is a treat!

Candles in every room. The tiny size of winter scented candle samplers is a fun way to go from room to room and light different ones depending on your mood. NEST candles has a great sampler!

Have Pumpkin pancake mixes and batters and sauces handy that we purchased at the July Porter Peach Festival…make them (with your kids!) when your college kids come home on Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break and Christmas Break.

Drink hot tea at midday to stave off wine o’ clock which might put you into bed too early. (dehydrates you too and causes under eye puffiness the next day) But we love wine!!!

enjoy the Christmas lights around town. Run errands at night just to enjoy the lights.

spend time at Philbrook Museum to absorb all the holiday beauty.

binge watch DVDs or Netflix.

put out winter decor (not just Christmas decor) so it’s not as anti-climactic when you take the Christmas decorations down.

increase water and vitamin intake to combat salty foods and cocktails.

use your treadmill while  you watch TV or read. Save the treadmill for winter and enjoy the outside the other three seasons.

change out pillows and throws.….use holiday themed ones.

make mulling spices or buy them.

cook stews and soups

bake bread

host a hot cocoa stand and give the proceeds to charity

entertain more often--simple or grand. whether it’s coffee & coffee cake or a new recipe.

“Arting”— one friend says she does more art during this time. Pinot’s Palette, etc…

find restaurants with fireplaces

add photos to your computer

organize for tax season

invite friends over to get them out of their “hibernation caves”. A little company here and there also makes you forget about the winter doldrums.

http://hyggehouse.com/hygge

http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/wellbeing/6-ways-to-embrace-hygge-the-danish-secret-to-staying-happy-during-winter?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=realsimple.com&xid=soc_socialflow_facebook_realsimple

http://www.chopra.com/articles/5-ways-to-build-mental-stamina-over-the-holidays

see “Winter Coping Rituals…..Hygge” on this blog for Part 2 to this article.

Sangria is the sultry Spanish wine…..prettier than regular wine but a bit of a risk. Wine lovers may not always prefer a fruity wine but they are often pleasantly surprised when they enjoy this libation. While it’s not suitable for many pairings, it’s good to try it out at least once.

I was first introduced to the concept of sangria as a child when our father dipped apple slices in his wine glass and handed them to us off his knife or fork. We gobbled up these wine soaked apple slices the way others might enjoy an after-dinner dessert. It was earthy, organic and full of flavanoids.

Years later, I realized it was a form of sangria to have this apple-wine combo. Occasionally, we’ll happen upon a sangria at a party or restaurant, tapas place, etc but it’s still a rarity. I’ve decided to narrow down some of the sangria recipes that I want to recommend.

The key with sangria is to keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm it with syrupy combinations of ingredients. Sangria should be subtle. Here’s one recipe I recommend:

   Sultry Sangria 

• 1 bottle of red wine   (Rioja, Malbec, Merlot, etc)
• orange slices
• lemon slices or lime
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 shot brandy
• 1-2 cups ginger ale (or modify this to your taste)
• optional: a few cranberries or raspberries

Chill it overnight to let the fruit flavor marinate into the wine. A high quality wine is recommended.

Sangria has been reportedly enjoyed since the Middle Ages when spices like ginger and cardamom were added to it. The word “sangria” is said to originate from at least two sources: “sangre” which means “blood” for its blood color and the Sanskrit word “sakkari” which means “sugared wine.”

White wine sangrias are also wonderful variations. I enjoy those when I have sushi. It’s a nice, light pairing of flavors. Stay tuned for recipes on white wine sangrias! Salud!

Markets, bazaars, souks and la boqueria…..different names for different lands. The excitement is the same. Some of the best sightseeing experiences in foreign countries are found in the markets. Tourists gravitate toward them. The boqueria in Barcelona is incredibly enticing and attractive. Children especially are drawn to linger inside. Fresh and fanciful, the fruit was juicy, the jamon hung from the ceiling, fresh smoothies were being blended and nuts and spices were on display as well. Chorizo sausage is now a staple in our home.

Morocco’s souk had it all—cactus fruit, teas, nuts, spices, etc. A Berber woman busted open a cactus fruit to let us sample it. Magic! Switzerland‘s farmers market had huge sunflowers and florals for sale among their food items. Mexico‘s markets had omelets frying on griddles and fish stews boiling and bubbling. Greece‘s market had bundles of wild sage and oregano for sale. Turkey’s bazaar had sumptuous gyro sandwiches with red cabbage shredded inside.

In a book I recently read, I learned about the Armenian food market and an interesting and exotic item they have for sale there—cow hooves! Cow hooves are the main ingredient in khash, which is cow feet soup! Khash is considered “Armenian soul food” and it’s gone from being food for commoners to gourmet food, now! Khash contains the hooves and stomach after days of soaking in water, scraping it clean and hours of cooking.

An international farmers market we enjoy on U.S. soil is in Kansas City. The City Market thrives with its bustling atmosphere and live entertainment. Unique flea markets surround the area and it’s the closest thing to home where we can get certain delicacies.

Every summer, we try to go to the Porter Peach Festival  in Porter, Oklahoma. The orchard and market is where you get the homegrown fruits and vegetables and the festival and parade is in their old downtown square where they have cobblers, pie ala mode, funnel cakes and more. Although quite different from a market in Morocco, both had camels!

A sentimental favorite is our own Cherry Street Farmers Market in Tulsa. A Saturday morning tradition from Spring to Fall, people stroll the market regularly, whether they buy anything or not. Granted, you may have your favorite items but the live music, sunshine and happy people are the main benefits. Seeing parsnips for sale was a deja vu to a trip in Ireland where we had parsnip soup for the first time. I bought some parsnips for sentimental reasons and cooked them up that night for an attempt at recreating the soup. This may not have happened if it weren’t for the neighborhood farmers market stroll! We expanded our horizons with this new recipe….and soaked up the horizon, too!

© Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

photos by Gina

 

Tennessee is home to two exciting musical meccas: Nashville and Memphis. These two exciting cities are known for several important landmarks….and two very important streets! Which Tennessee street is your favorite? Beale or Broadway? Or are they equally iconic in your eyes? I went to both Nashville and Memphis in the summer of 2016 and spent many days in each famous city to absorb the history and nostalgia of these music “capitals”.

First, we visited Nashville. We did it all!—all the major attractions. The time spent on Broadway street, however, gives you the real pulse of Nashville. Bars and clubs filled with country western and rock music ring  out as you pass from door to door down this street of Americana. A charming candy store named Savannah’s Candy Kitchen kept us riveted for a long time as well as a boot store with shelves upon shelves of cowboy boots.

Pedicabs and horse drawn carriages were among the pedestrians. Cabs, ubers and party buses were plentiful. At the end of the street was the view of the river and riverboats…..and a strawberry moon! A very special June night!

Once we arrived in Memphis, the feel changed. Rather than country western, this was the home of the blues. Honky tonks and blues music were the highlights there. A cobbled street where no cars are allowed was filled with street performers and tourists dancing in the street. A zombie parade one night and a Vespa convention another night stimulated the already exciting Beale Street. Wet barbecue vs. dry barbecue was also a case in study.

The architecture on Beale street felt older as well as the interior inside one store, A. Schwab.  Great antiques inside set the tone for Memphis nostalgia. Both streets were highly entertaining and the food was delicious everywhere we went. We were within walking distance of our hotel near Beale street so that might have enhanced our stay there. In Nashville, we stayed 4 miles from Broadway Street in the hip East Nashville area at an Air BnB bungalow. That had its pros, too, as we could experience the life of the neighborhood locals, the neighborhood coffee shop and bakery.

I think it would be outrageously fun to return to Memphis for a possible St. Patrick’s Day celebration. These cities share the same vibe as Bourbon Street, Vegas, Branson, etc…on a different scale. It’s always fun to search through America’s ” party headquarters” and reminds me how much flavor the United States does have.

This June 2016 trip presented me with this question: which street did I enjoy better?—Beale or Broadway? This is a good question to ponder….so I just may have to go back to answer it thoroughly!

© Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

photos by Gina