< two fifty: life in a tiny apartment.

Think seasonally.

I've already written about the usefulness of having at least a small bit of storage relegated to storing off-season clothes. Wrestling with an over-stuffed dresser drawer is nobody's idea of fun and making room in the drawers that you use every day can do wonders for your well-being and your nerves.

But beyond just remembering to swap out my clothes with the seasons, lately I've been finding it useful to think about how other aspects of my home shift along with the weather.

With the radiator turned off, I have a whole new surface to prop books or cups of iced tea without fear of scorching. When the windows are open, there are an extra few inches of window sill space for balancing a house plant (or face brush). Needing to cool things off with a fan means moving a lamp to a different corner.

While I'm not one to go in for wholesale redecorating every few months, it's refreshing to think about even small ways to change the way things look around here.

How do you change things in your home from season to season? Do you shift things around or swap things out? Different bedclothes? New plants? Swapped pillowcases? I'm curious!

PS. I'm seriously considering this trick for making this bathroom screen a little bit more...discrete.

shelter: a prickley mountain bag giveaway.

When it comes to bags, I'm more or less a monogamist. I've never been one of those women whose closet is jammed full of bags to match shoes and belts and special occasions. I like to carry one trusty bag and to have it do all the work that I need it to. If a bag treats me right, it's guaranteed a lasting spot on the crook of my arm. If it doesn't? Well, it doesn't get a second look.  Lately, my go-to bag has been the Prickley Mountain Bag from Shelter.

The Prickley Mountain Bag in cove green waxed canvas and bright pink ikat is every bit as lovely as the woman who makes it. Karie Reinertson of Shelter makes consistently beautiful bags from her Asheville, North Carolina studio. Made from thoughtfully sourced leather and one-of-a-kind fabrics, the bags are works of art in the best kind of way: they're every bit as functional as they are nice to look at.

With straps that can be worn across the shoulder or carried briefcase-style, the Prickley Mountain bag makes the perfect companion for early morning trips by subway or Saturday afternoon bike rides to explore a new neighborhood.

An interior pocket helps keep things organized and bright brass hardware is both sturdy and handsome. Good qualities in a bag and other things, don't you think?

Kindly, Karie and Shelter is offering a Prickley Mountain Bag to one lucky Reading My Tea Leaves reader.

For a chance to win, follow Shelter on Instagram and Facebook and leave a comment here with a description of the kinds of things you'd tote around in your Prickley Mountain Bag.

The giveaway will close on Thursday evening at 5:00 pm and a randomly selected winner will be announced on Friday. Lots of luck and thanks for reading! As always, many thanks for supporting Reading My Tea Leaves sponsors.

(This giveaway is open to folks in the US and internationally; international participants are responsible for their own shipping fees).

may rain.

Rainy weekend window box views.

Rain on green things is so much better than rain on concrete things, don't you think?

my week in objects (mostly).

five little things that made my week.

1. these forget-me-nots.
{because they're transplanted from connecticut and doin' just fine}.

2. this earl grey.

{because it's much fancier than i usually buy, but an emergency tea stop meant fancy tea}.

3. this tiny herb garden.

{because i finally figured out which herbs can thrive on a low-light windowsill. more here}.

4. these loppers.

{borrowed. and used to take the little shade garden out front to the next level}.

5. this posy.

{because even though i didn't photography it before it got droopy, it was nice to have all week long}.

other things:
this dungaree dress.
photos by snail mail.
this perfect pencil case.
this little round collar.
these ferns.
midsummer!

things by me in other places:
herbs that can grow (almost) anywhere.
considering the fiddle leaf fig.
lilacs.
shaking things up.