Friday, May 31, 2013

Miller Time Friday: Mint Condition in my Garden and the J Crew Factory Sequin Tank

Happy Friday!

It is still early in the growing season, and my mint is already out of control.


Within two weeks, it will be well up above the horizontal board.

See - it spills over on to the pathway.


I pull it up regularly and have even poured vinegar on it, which is very effective, but here is the awful truth - it smells AMAZING to walk on.  Like so many things in life, the thing that drives you crazy is the thing that you also love....

Mint continues to be a huge colour this spring and summer in fashion.  The Tartine tote is a lovely little bag of minty freshness:

Tartine tote

And the new Tory Burch Lucille Blouse is also lovely:


Tory Burch Summer Lookbook

About a month ago, I broke down and ordered the spearmint sequin top from the J Crew Factory site.

Factory sequin v-neck tank
It was one of the crazy sales where the item is on for $20 for a couple of days and I decided it would be fun for summer.  Right now I see it is on for $52 CDN.  But then the weather got wet and cold and so I didn't get it out again, but I plan to this weekend, since it will be very hot.  I plan to wear it with the cargo scout chino in venetian green.  Unlike other J Crew tops of this season, the arm holes are not cut too large, so you don't show side bra, which is important to me!

Cargo scout chino

These pants are the perfect match for the sequin top.

I love this colour - it is almost the bottle-green-fatigue-colour of the 1940s to 1960s which I love so much and which is in my kitchen:



and IRL, together:


The back of the tank is cotton, which I always prefer to sequins all around:


The one time I wore this, I wore it with white jeans.  I think that mint and white look so fresh together...


Update:

Me in outfit (I was too lazy to get dressed earlier...)


In honour of all of my mint, and because I need to come up with new cocktails besides the Mojito, which sometimes makes my eyes cross, let's make a new minty cocktail, shall we?

Missionary's Downfall

Ingredients [ oz | cl ]My Bar ]
1 oz White RumAdd ]
12 oz Peach LiqueurAdd ]
12 oz Lime JuiceAdd ]
14 oz Simple SyrupAdd ]
20 Mint LeavesAdd ]
0.5 slice PineappleAdd ]
MethodPrepare in a blender
GlassCocktail
Recipe:
  1. Stip mint leaves from sprigs and discard stems.
  2. Place the leaves in a blender with rest of ingredients.
  3. Add 14 oz crushed ice.
  4. Blend until smooth.
  5. Pour into glass or tiki mug.


Have you any big plans for the weekend?  I plan to do some weeding, some reading and am off to purchase a new cellphone, as I have turned in my crackberry at work.  The weather forecast is calling for more rain (!), which I hope is not the case.  I am hoping to spend some time in the pool as well!

Have a wonderful day and stay safe out there!

36 comments:

  1. I love mint if you can just send some over.... Green is such a versatile color, summery shades (mint) on one end of the spectrum & wintery (emerald) on the other. Looking forward to pics of your outfit. It will be another working Saturday for me, unfortunately, logging in the hours for an upcoming vacation. Hope your weekend starts well.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. HI Marie - just posted a pic of me in the outfit! I am sorry you are working this weekend but happy for you about upcoming vacation! Going anywhere special?

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  2. NEWLY MINTED WMM, coming to raid your patch right now. If I lived where you do, would have a jar (well maybe a vat) of mint-infused simple syrup on the go at all times. Lovely refreshing tank. I look better in the emerald than mint end of the green spectrum. But I kind of regret not snapping up the JCF anchor sequin tank in those sales. Was afraid the graphic would hip me in an awkward spot and weather also had me anti-summer (won't wear that for two months) back then.
    I am working this weekend as well, but will mop and sit on balcony with Portrait for a bit!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I have always liked that tank, GF - COlorful Corporate wears it so well! I will soon be making that minty syrup and am looking forward to it! At dinner last night, we had a sorrel-lovage salad from my garden - so yummy!

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  3. I love that outfit on you. I think it looks amazing, this is a great colour on you!
    How lovely to walk through a patch of mint in your garden. Your weekend plans sound idyllic. I'll be in my kitchen and cleaning my house this weekend as we have The Chef coming for dinner on Sunday. Already nervous, trying to remember to just buy good ingredients and keep it simple.

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    1. oh he will love you - what's not to love! I cleaned like a bugger yesterday in advance of last night's dinner party! I did forget we are going on a fundraiser walk to support brain tumour awareness in the morrow, which will be great!

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  4. Lovely shade , great cocktail but I love it most in your kitchen, I have cabinet envy.
    I have planted mint 5 times and it dies every time I am lusting after your crop.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. HOnestly, I wish I could give you some - I pulled out the same amount growing in the potager. It is crazy! Our kitchen is not fancy at all - we did all the work and the cupboards are wretched inside, but it has a certain charm. When you come someday, I will let you peek in the cupboards and then you will know my darkest secrets!

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  5. Yes mint has a tendency to go out of control! But I love the plant, color, and smell. That mint and white pants would be so clean and fresh, pity the weather isn't still mint appropriate...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes - we could be the doublemint twins, coulda shoulda woulda!

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  6. Great minty outfit! Good color on you. We're off to Rockland for MLane's bday dinner at Primo; the woman chef just won a J Beard award. Have a relaxing Miller time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I am off to look that up! That could be a destination! Happy Bday to MLane!

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  7. My beautiful land dwelling mermaid- that is you WMM. Thanks for the mintspiration. Have a hopefully dry weekend, except for the cocktails.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Ha - I will take that compliment - I am definitely a land dwelling beast! Mintsperation - wonderful!

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  8. Love the sequins with the cotton back. The price was right at $20! What a great deal.
    Our weekend is packed with work for me, a family BBQ that we are hosting Saturday night and Slugger's baseball games. Hope you have a relaxing day!
    BTW-Saving Miller Time for tomorrow when the family is here. We bought some lovely wine in Napa that I'm planning to share with my fav SiL. I'm on plan (down 10#) and drinking sabotages my efforts.

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    Replies
    1. Good for you Julie! I am on very limited alcohol intake meself these days, and I can sadly say it hasn't impacted the bottom line, though I sleep sooo much better!

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  9. I do love mint and white together, it is so cooling on a hot summer day. You should be making mojitos with all that mint!

    I'm planting trees this weekend. We have a lot of trees on the property but I want more to arrange in groupings and features. Many were taken out to build the house so there is some open space. Sunday I'm off to Boston for a week, will have to find 30 minutes to pack!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love trees - I just planted two little norway spruce earlier this week.

      Boston! So jealous! Have you been to the Isabel Stewart Gardiner museum there?

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    2. I have not been to that museum WMM. I will be spending most of the non-work time with friends except for a little detour for shopping. I love Newbury Street and my hotel is practically right next door. Museums are fine but not my favorite thing to visit. I like to see architecture and people with lots of walking outdoors. I probably don't visit enough museums when I travel but I've yet to have regrets.

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    3. well then the Commons and Public Gardens it is then! Have a great time!

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  10. I love mint, especially with yogurt and spring onions, makes an excellent sauce for grilled lamb chops. The previous owner of our house planted mint in the backyard - I pull it up every year, but it still pops up in the odd place every summer. The mint green sequin top looks great on you! Happy Friday!

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    1. That sounds great Louise! I think once the mint is there, it is there. sometimes it hides on you, but it always shows up!

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  11. Love mint - this makes me want to plant some. In a pot, of course... we don't have much garden space so I wouldn't want it taking over. It sure smells great. I love your green outfit - my favorite color!

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    1. I wanted steal my daughters mint green cardigan,to wear out, but in the end, went with an ivory cardigan. My tendency to go over the top must always be watched carefully!

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  12. Hi WMM, love your minty fresh outfit. Mint is one of my favourite herbs - lately I've been enjoying it with diced oranges and feta cheese, so refreshing.

    Have a lovely weekend - we are going to see Whoopi Goldberg at Casino Rama tonight. I hear her comedy act is kind of R-rated - hope I'm not too shocked! :0)

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    1. I am going to try that recipe - sounds divine! I would love to see Whoopi - bet she has some "stories"!

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  13. Wow, that is a lot of mint! For some reason, I never have much luck with mint. Love you kitchen, especially with the red mixer!

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    1. this mint could out-mint all mint - it is crazy mint! Thanks for the nice comment. Have a whole post on the kitchen back in August 2012 if you want to see more pics!

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  14. Oh, mint... mine fills a planter box that tops off the deck fence, and while I was thinning it with one hand, it started to grow up my other arm (the one I was leaning on).

    That outfit is why I envy redheads. You look gorgeous and sophisticated in mint. If I were to try it, I would look like a demented superannuated scout leader.

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    1. OKAY - I officially snorted at this comment - only you would come up with "demented superannuated scout leader" - then I got to thinking - I could be a demented superannuated scout leader... I am awfully cheerful...

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  15. Oh I have total mint envy! We kill all things that we try to grow in our postage sized back yard, including mint. I love mint, especially in salads and cocktails!
    Love your outfit too! I don't think I'd look very good in mint, but you totally rock it!

    We're off to Luna Park for the day with M and her girl friends for her birthday part 2.
    Luna Park is a funfair type thing. It's my idea of purgatory, but the girls are super excited, so I'm sure it will be great. The weather is looking vile, though, so fingers crossed it doesn't rain too much.

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    1. Ruth - I have done more indoor climbing facilities, gymnastics, clown, fun park birthday parties than I care to recall! God be with yoU!

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  16. I love your outfit, it is so cheery! I will be watching games this weekend, NHL playoffs etc!

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    1. Cyber high five, cate, we're watching the NHL playoffs too.

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  17. My coloring is all wrong for mint, would make me look like I need to go to the hospital. But quite relieved when it's the it color since that would save me from adding to my closet. You, however, are minty fresh and gorgeous in the color.

    Must be delightful to have all that growing in your garden. I thought mint julep for the drink, always wanted to have a good one and wondered if they're as good as they sound.

    I must pack yet again for another business trip. Oy, wish me to staying put for a long while once I'm back.

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    1. Tiffany Rose - I wish you a summer of staying put, how's that? in about another 2 weeks I will begin the regular harvest and will try to make a good mint julep and let you know!

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