Elva Fields Blog
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Elva Adventures: Summer Travels
When a family wedding (congrats, Tim and Ellen!) this summer inspired a trip to Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands, I wasn't sure what to expect. I think my only previous experience with the state was a long-ago fishing trip to Lake Erie with my former husband that was less-than-stellar. (It was freezing. It was raining. I caught nothing but a cold.) I was certain this time around would be different. Mostly because it was July and not February, but also because a couple of days before departure, my older brother asked if I might be interested in taking a little cultural field trip the day after the wedding.
As it turns out, Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright creation that has been on my bucket list for years, was less than an hour away from the wedding spot. We made our way through thick forests, rolling farmland, hills of towering rhododendron in bloom, and winding roads to this architectural gem nestled in the woods. It was stunning and serene all at once: the rushing water, the misty, damp quiet of the wooded property, the preserved details in each room, from rugs and books to art and furniture. Even my 8-year-old was enthralled. (A few tips: make a reservation for the tour, enjoy lunch before or after, and wear shoes that will allow you to explore some of the surrounding trails.) What a treat to experience this beautiful place.
Later that afternoon, our family headed to the second half of our Pennsylvania adventure: Gettysburg. My mother has long been tracking down and documenting our family's history on Ancestry.com, a project about which she is incredibly passionate and enthusiastic. (Insert volumes, charts, piles of photos here...though I can barely keep all of the "greats" and connections straight past two or three generations.) It's amazing, really, what she's uncovered and discovered, and a story about our second great grandfather who fought at Gettysburg--and survived--brought us to the battlefield on a hot July morning for a guided tour.
We saw and stood where my ancestor likely camped during his time there (my older brother took the beautiful photo above of the spot) and despite the heartbreaking, awful stories, facts and circumstances surrounding this pivotal battle, it was powerful to hear, and, I think, important to know. We are who we are as both a people and a country because of the events and people who came before us. And, while my kids complained and picked wildflowers and really just wanted to get to the hotel pool, I was glad we experienced that place.Family vacations are never perfect, but we hit some highlights on our adventures in Pennsylvania...and I'm looking forward to our next trip. (Beach!) -
Sale, Styled: Transitioning to Fall
Our End-of-Summer Sale may have just wrapped, but as the dust settled after the last order shipped, I noticed we still had some pretty amazing (if I do say so myself) jewels left on the shelves that could be so great for the fall season. So here's what I decided: I re-taught myself the limited skills I had in Adobe InDesign and crafted this not-incredibly-polished-but-passable blog post that shows some of my favorite sale goodies with some of my favorite fashion finds around the interwebs. Perhaps it will inspire some fun outfits, maybe you'll decide to snag that necklace you've been eyeing after all, or maybe it'll just be incredibly obvious that I'm NOT a graphic designer. No matter, here you go, peeps. And...just for checking it out, any items of ours featured in the post will be an extra 20% off with code SALESTYLED at checkout, now through the end of the month. Enjoy!
ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT:
Tie-Sleeve Sweatshirt / Radiant Wonder Necklace / Vintage Céline Scarf
Go Against the Grain Necklace / Gingham Dress / Wide Leg Crop Pant
Vintage Bracelet / Limited-Edition Brass Bangle
Fatigue Boyfriend Shirt / Vintage Tassel Earrings
Vintage YSL Scarf / Flounce Dress
A Refreshing Twist Necklace / Cropped Tee
Sonja Dress / So Much to Say Necklace / Vintage Filigree Earrings
Ruffle Swing Top / Golden Starshine Necklace
Waves on Repeat Necklace / High-Rise Denim
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Summer Breakfast
My tried-and-true breakfast for years has been a fried egg on toast (along with a few other accompaniments on a non-school-run day) and, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.Which is why I was a little skeptical of a gift from my mom that offered a change to my morning routine: a pottery egg poacher for the microwave. First of all, what's the big improvement of poached over fried? Secondly, microwaveable pottery? I didn't know that was a thing. Despite my reservations, I gave it a shot and immediately changed my narrow-minded breakfast ways.It helps that it's summertime, and delicious tomatoes are in ready supply. Also, that I'm not rushing out the door with two kiddos and an early school start time, but it's honestly not an involved process. We'll see if I can still swing it come August. I'm hoping so, because this start to my summer days is nothing short of delicious.Ingredients:- bread, toasted- egg, poached in the microwave following instructions from the Pottery- sliced tomato- 5-6 spinach leaves, added to the egg poacher for a minute or two post-microwaving- olive oil- salt and pepperPlace the egg, tomato, and spinach on the toast, drizzle with olive oil, add salt and pepper to taste, and start your summer day right. -
June in June
Through Monday June 26th*, all earrings on our site will be just $25 per pair!No promo code necessary, prices as marked.Happy shopping!*sale ends 11:59:59 pm 6.26.17. -
Summer Fun : Louisville's Cultural Pass
If you're anything like me and patching together a mix of child care, camps, and summer fun for your kiddos AND you live here in the lovely land of Louisville, then the Cultural Pass may be just the ticket for you. Like a ticket, it provides entry to some of the best spots in and around town (Bernheim Forest, The Speed Museum, and Actors Theatre just to name a few) and it's entirely free for each registered kiddo and accompanying guardian. (Thanks to the vision and support of the Fund for the Arts, Churchill Downs, Metro Louisville, Arts and Culture Alliance, and--one of my favorite places--the Louisville Free Public Library!)
Simply pick up your pass at any Louisville Free Public Library branches or Metro Community Center and enjoy the activity options though August 12th.
We've hit a few stops so far, but our first was a trip to Yew Dell Botanical Gardens.
A scavenger hunt sent us all over the property on the hunt for various plants, sculpture, buildings, and landmarks. The kids were fueled by competition and a checklist, I was thrilled to wander and take it all in.
The greenhouse's living roof was a spectacular sight, and beauty found at every turn.
I know we'll be back again, and it was such a treat to visit with our pass this summer. Can't wait to share a few more of our Cultural Pass stops throughout the season!
