In a decorating frenzy!

I've been on vacation since December 17th, and in that time have finally started tackling some projects around the apartment like getting a new entertainment center to replace the 10 year old, (broken) pressboard unit I had. I'm not quite done, but I think I've got a plan.

I upgraded to a 42" flat panel TV since they don't sell anything deep enough for an old TV anymore, and I've decided to get the Hemnes TV stand and bookshelves to put it on. Here's my rough attempt to put pictures of the pieces together:

The whole thing only costs $434, which is about $2000 less than the first set I was looking at over at Crate & Barrel.

I've taped the height and width of the bookcases out on my wall with masking tape and they're large, but I think they'll give the wall a real focal point and add a sense of balance that's currently missing.

I have one nice large bookcase now, but I'll need to move that to make room. That's OK, though. It's always felt off balance with a hulking entertainment center and such a tall bookcase next to it, but only on one side. This should provide the same storage but in a much more attractive form.

It'll also force me to do some book cleanout. Some will be given away, some will be moved to an IKEA Billy bookcase in the office, and the bookcase itself will go to my mom. She has a much bigger house that can take such a wide bookcase without it being unbalanced.

I'm going to get the TV stand tomorrow and will pick up the bookcases once I convince an SUV-driving friend to play cargo-van for me. Will update with pictures once it's all put together! I'll probably paint, too, but that'll be a project for another time. Stay tuned - I'm hosting a few friends for NYE so it'll definitely be at least partly up in the next 2 days.

Back to blogging

My last post was September 27th...wow. That's mostly because of two things I've been on 7 different business trips since then which hasn't left time for much else - blogging, decorating, anything worth blogging about. But that's changing. I just finished my last trip for 2010 and I will soon have some time to start enjoying the things that I like to blog about here.

The one thing (sadly!) that I have been able to do was shop, so I have some fun new clothes and things that I'm loving. I'm going to try to take pics of some snazzy new winter dresses and other outfits as I wear them to work in the next couple of weeks. Then during my 2 week vacation I'm using birthday money to finally replace my 10 year old, horribly broken entertainment center (and possibly the old CRT TV that sits on it). I somehow think that project will end up involving cans of paint in the living room, as well, so perhaps I'll have some new decor pictures to post.

I'm still not sure if anyone even reads this blog, but if you do thanks for your patience these last few months. I'm glad to be getting back to doing the things I really enjoy.

My Favorite Things - September 2010

Here's what I'm loving as we kick off the fall season:



1. Longchamp "Le Pliage" large tote. I started seeing everyone carrying this bag, including 4 girls on my team at work. So I went and got one, and it is great. A perfect errands-around-town carryall. My only feedback would be to put a zipper on the inner pocket and maybe a little more structure. But it's still a great bag.



2. Self magazine's new workout plan. I've been needing a boost, and last month's Self magazine had a great workout plan that included some interval routines for the elliptical, treadmill, and bike. I've been doing one for elliptical in particular that's a real calorie burner. I was down 3 lbs at my last check, so clearly it works!



3. My "Happy" playlist. I realized that my iPod contains way too many sad songs, and I'm trying to be a more positive person these days. So I created a playlist of all music that makes me smile from ear to ear. It includes songs like "1985" by Bowling For Soup, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under" by Shania Twain, and "Blame It On The Love Of Rock 'n' Roll" by Bon Jovi. Yes, I have ecclectic taste in music. But when I'm in a funk it lifts me right out!



4. A bed full of fluffy pillows. I recently added a third set of pillows to my bed and while it's a little annoying at night because I have to move them all, I love looking at it. I travel alot for work and hotel beds just look so appealing with all that fluff. I was trying to recreate that at home and I've succeeded.


5. My new ruched-sleeve tshirt. On my quest for more interesting, fun clothes I found this tshirt at Nordstrom. Wasn't sure if it was really "me" but the first time I wore it my friend told me - without prompting - how cute I looked and that she loved my top. Sold! I feel very french in it with some slim jeans and ballet flats. Oui oui!

Coming Soon...new content

I've been increadibly busy during September, so I haven't blogged much at all. But I am going to be updating the blog with a bunch of new things very soon. On the agenda...

- New bedroom decor. I redid my bedroom and I love how it looks, especially the bed. Stay tuned for pictures.

- Fun fall outfits. I got some sweet deals on cute fall clothes at the Outlets, and I want to share some of the combinations I put together.

- All things loved in September. My regular monthly post about my favorite things this month.

Adventures in nail polish

I went for a lovely manicure today with my friend S from work. The manicurist talked me into trying the new Shellac gel nail polish that supposedly lasts for 14 days minimum without chipping. They put it on then dry it under a special UV light. It's dry right away and you can do anything (get keys from the purse, money from your wallet, etc) right after it's done.

The verdict? Eh. So far, anyway.

The color is pale pink, but it's much more opaque than the color I normally get. I like the look of a french manicure overlay without the white tip (my nails are pretty white naturally). This is much more ballerina tutu opaque pink. Not horrible, but not the look I was going for.

The other thing I don't love is that there is a space between the edge of the polish and my cuticle, the way a pedicure looks when it's grown out for a month or so. The manicurist said this is because the polish shrinks when it dries, but I think part of it was the application. Some people just don't do the sides of nails very well - I've had this happen with regular polish, too. The color is light enough that it's not noticeable from far away, but I wasn't thrilled to pay $30 for a mani I wasn't happy with.

My friend recommended this place so I didn't want to make a fuss, but next time I go to my regular place (where I know they do a great job) I'm going to try it again and see if the application looks different. I'll also come back and post an update on the chip-alert to see if this stuff really lasts as long as they say it does.

Have you tried Shellac? If so, let me know your experience.

Helping out those in need at Back To School time

I don't have kids, but I'm such a geek that back-to-school time is still a magical time of year for me. I love the feeling of a fresh start, new teachers, new classes. But I also know that back to school is not such a magical time for many people, including teachers and students who don't have the supplies they need to foster great learning. To that end I went looking for a charity that helps match donors with classrooms in need. I found one that seems to be very highly rated by Charity Navigator, called Adopt-A-Classroom.

I've only begun to scan the list, and am struck by how many classrooms there are that need our help. It makes me sad, to be honest. We spend millions on sports and trashy TV each year while our hardworking (and underpaid) teachers shell out their own hard earned cash just to fulfill basic learning needs.

So as you set your budget for back to school this year, consider adding a little more to help students and teachers in need. This will definitely become part of my annual back-to-school ritual from here out.

Set a decluttering goal

I've seen several web sites/posts/blogs lately encouraging people to set a specific goal for getting rid of unused, unwanted, or un-needed items in your home. A few of them include:

Throw Out 50 Things

A Thing A Day (ATAD)
(scroll down for comments - the formatting on the site is wacky)

I really like this idea, although it doesn't jive with the way I tend to do things. I declutter in big spurts (I buy in big spurts, too). But I like the idea of systemically deciding to get rid of a set number of things, identifying those things, and following through.

I'm toying with the idea of a "30 things in 30 days" challenge but will have to see what September looks like to see if I'll have the time to do it. I am getting a jump-start, though - there are two big bags to go to Goodwill and several other things earmarked for my Mom when she visits next week. I'm looking forward to having those things out of my house!

Embrace The Camera

One of my favorite bloggers posted today about the importance of capturing yourself in pictures you take of what's going on in your life:

http://www.allthingsgd.com/2010/08/embrace-camera.html

For her it was about pictures with her daughter, but I think it's important for anyone. I don't have kids, but I do travel. I have few pictures of myself in the places I've visited. I wish I had more. One of my favorite pictures actually only has a hint of me - my toes - as I lay next to the gorgeous beaches of Cancun.

What can you do to embrace the camera the next time you're doing something fun? Self-portraits. Hold your hand out in a "thumbs-up" in the middle of the photo? Get creative, get cooky, see what comes of it. I think it's a fun project and one I'll try to remember to do myself throughout the rest of this year.

What should I do with...?

Part of being organized is de-cluttering. But once you've identified a pile of stuff you no longer need or want, what do you do with it? It seems wasteful to just trash it, so luckily there are organizations all over the place that will take all kinds of things. I myself am recycling some old magazines (to the gym) and found several articles listing places to take stuff you no longer need. Here are the ones I took note of:

• Appliances. Stores like Lowe's and Home Depot may take them away when they deliver new ones. Oterhwise, call 800-GOT-JUNK. It costs $$, but it's worth the effort saved (IMO).
• Computers, printers, electronics. According to the June 2009 issue of O Magazine, Staples will take small items (larger ones for a $10 fee) and recycle them. I have also called my town, which runs a bi-annual electronics recycling day.
• Carpet. Who knew someone could recycle old carpet. But they can at carpetrecovery.org.
• Basic sporting goods (soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs, cleats, etc). Sports Gift (sportsgift.org) redistributes stuff to underpriveleged kids. Super-cool.
• Tennis balls. Rebounces.com restores the bounce and sells them at a deep discount for use as practice balls.
• Orthotics, crutches, ankle splints, wheelchairs, knee braces. joniandfriends.org or cbmus.org.
• Expensive or bulky fitness stuff (skis, golf clubs, rollerblades, treadmills, etc). Play It Again Sports (playitagainsports.com buy and resell this kind of stuff.

If you're like me and preparing for the great pre-fall cleanout, consider donating your unwanted stuff to someone who can reuse or redistribute it. Good for you, good for others, good for the planet.

Pretty jewelery storage

I am working on redoing my bedroom (pics to come soon!) and one of the things I'm trying to tackle is jewelery and acceessory storage. Step 1 is getting rid of stuff I don't need or wear. But what to do with what's left? I currently have a very functional, small rack from Target that I hang my costume necklaces on behind the bathroom door. But then I found a great idea via Unclutterer.com that I want to swap in for that. It serves the same function, but it's much prettier.

It's the first option you see in this post on Jeri's Organizing & Decluttering News. It's an empty frame with screen in it that you hang the earrings on. The bottom has posts that you can hang your necklaces on. I love the idea of having all my stuff where I can see it because I know that makes me wear what I have more often.

I have several large picture frames that I'm not using right now that would be perfect for this. It will also allow me to move the current necklace rack and use it for my brooms in the utility closet, which is its original intended purpose.

When I do this project I will definitely post pictures, DIY instructions, and a total project cost.

Bouncing back from a bad day

I read alot of business publications for work, and Harvard Business Review is one of my favorites. They not only have great business articles, they have quite a bit on personal and professional development. I came across this one as I was getting ready to head home for the night and thought it was simple but powerful. Consider it next time you are feeling frustrated toward the end of the day.

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/08/prevent_taking_a_bad_day_home.html

Keep grocery spending in check without losing credit card benefits

I use my credit card to buy all my groceries because I get 5% cash back on each purchase. That adds up to a decent sum over a year, so when I was looking for ways to keep my grocery spending in check I didn't really want to switch to the cash-in-an-envelope method (put your budget amount in cash in an envelope, pay from that, and when it's gone it's gone). I think I found a compromise, though, that gives you the best of both worlds.

If I buy a gift card at the grocery store, it should register as a qualifying purchase on my card and hence get the 5% cash back. But it will also have a fixed spending limit that I can then use for the rest of the month, and when it's done it's done. The credit card company got the money (and associated fees from the merchant) so they're happy. I get my built in budget tracker, so I'm happy. Win-win!

I have to check with the credit card company this week to make sure that all purchases at a grocery store qualify for the cash back to make this work, but if they do I can't wait to put it into practice. If you try it let me know what you think!

My Favorite Things: July 2010

Here is a list of all things I loved in June:

1) Small dark chocolate squares. Whole Foods has these little plastic canisters next to each register with candy in them. Generally I'm not a candy person, but one day I found little 0.4 oz squares of 75% dark chocolate. I thought to myself "that's a little treat that's self contained, and has some redeeming nutritional qualities!" So I bought one. Yum! I know build one into my day when I know I'm going shopping. It satisfies my sweet tooth without breaking the calorie bank. Whole Foods no longer has them, but I discovered that my local Brueggers Bagels does. Not an every day thing, but a nice treat once in a while

2) My new rosette t-shirt. I have looked everywhere for a pretty top with ruffles or florets but all of the ones I've seen either looked sloppy, unfinished, or too muted in color. They look great on models and other people, but I couldn't see myself wearing them. But recently I spotted one at Target of all places that I love. The color is pretty, the rosettes look finished and not sloppy, AND I had a coupon for 20% off one item in that brand. Score! It was only $14.99 to start with, so I got it for $13.49.

3) Everyday Food Magazine. A friend of a friend turned me on to this mini-magazine at a wine tasting party, and it's lived up to her praise. You may have trouble finding it - it's small (5x7) and usually with the smaller publications like Prevention Magazine. But it contains a ton of useful information, and simple recipes with minimal ingredients that you are likely to actually have in your pantry. I also really like the "Cooking For One" column each month because I am often eating solo or with just one other person and have to try to cut recipes down to scale. This saves me the trouble. There are also a ton of great features for larger families too - I've already seen articles on big freezer meals and how to feed a brood on a budget - with a premade shopping list! Good stuff. (Note - unlike some magazines, the associated Web site leaves alot to be desired, so I do recommend picking up the paper version.)

4) Babies!! Several of my friends have given birth to adorable little ones in the past few weeks. I am in love with all of them. Welcome to baby boy T, baby boy E, and baby girl L!!

5) Bon Jovi. My favorite band. Hands down. Best band ever. I got to see them live this month with my college best friend and another friend from work. Any month that includes a Bon Jovi show is a great month. I bought the tickets in November so this was much anticipated. And as usual, the Jersey Boys didn't disappoint!

An afternoon at the theater

I am taking my grandfather to the theater tomorrow and have already picked my attire. The plan is to pair this little polka-dot sundress from Target with a green cardigan from The Limited. Not sure what shoes I'll wear - probably my nicer black flip-flops from Ann Taylor LOFT. It's a matinee so I can't see wearing heels when some people will be in jeans.





I've always been boring with mix & match so I normally would only have worn this with a black or white cardi. But I saw a coworker wearing the same dress with a pink one and it looked great so I'm going for it! I even have a green pendant that I think would look nice with the v-neck of the dress.

Comfy + cute = mission accomplished!

New ktichen gadget: Julienne Peeler

I was reading Everyday Food magazine on the subway home today, and read about a tool I never knew existed - a julienne peeler. It works just like a regular vegetable peeler, but instead of wide stripes of peel it creates thin julienne strips of actual veggie. Um...where have you been all my life?! I have a mandolin slicer but hate to take it out because it's a hassle to use. This I would use without a doubt to make carrot or zucchini shreds without the shredder.

I am going to pick one up - just have to decide on a brand. Pampered Chef makes one as does OXO. The one in the magazine was a different brand that I can't recall, but will look up shortly. I can't wait to give this a try!

A fabulous spring/summer suit!

I am giving a speech next week, and needed a new summer suit to wear. After a surprisingly short time I found one at Macy's that I love! Here it is on the site: http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=470926&CategoryID=39097 and on me:


I still need to find shoes that match a little better than the ones I have, but they're more than good enough for this event. It was a little hard to find a top that went with the suit so I chose a cami in the same dark tan color in the suit's pinstripes.

I just love that it's not black, grey, or navy and that it's short sleeved so no hemming. Plus, I got it for more than 50% off the original price. Score!

Use a labelmaker to keep mascara fresh

I never used to give much thought to the guidelines for tossing makeup until I had an eye irritation last year. Now I'm diligent about it, and I rely on one of my favorite organizing tools - a labelmaker - to help.

Each time I start a new mascara tube, I label the bottom with the month in which it should be discarded. So when I started this new tube at the start of June, I labeled it with "August". That way I know that when August 31st comes, it's time to toss that tube and start fresh.

It takes the work out of trying to remember how old cosmetics are, and reminds me when I'm going to need to go shopping for a replacement. Plus, the idea cost $0 and took about 1 minute. The best of all worlds.

A new option for art

I am a huge fan of photography, and am particularly fascinated by lightweight canvas prints these days. There has been an art booth at my local mall with canvas prints for the last few months (Mac Jac) but none of the prints really spoke to me.

Today when I checked in at one of my favorite decor blogs - Young House Love - they were doing a giveaway from a site that turns your photos into custom canvas prints called Canvas On Demand. The prices seem really reasonable, and the customer showcase lets you see the photos that others have had turned into large scale wall art.

The challenge now is just figuring out which picture(s) to have printed for my dining room. I'm a little sick of the art I bought a few months ago because it's black and white (well, sepia really) and I'm in the mood for color. Once I decide and order I'll take pictures so you can see how they come out. In the meantime if you've ever used Canvas On Demand I'd love to hear about your experience!

Courtroom style

I had Jury Duty earlier this week, so I needed an outfit that was casual but not too casual, respectful of the seriousness of serving on a jury, and good for an unpredictable climate that I couldn't control. I chose some dark wash jeans, comfy metallic flats, my new rosette t-shirt, and a khaki courdoroy blazer for both polish and warmth. It turned out to be the perfect outfit, even when I was named foreman of the jury. I didn't feel overdressed due to the jeans & tee, but I also didn't feel underdressed because of the dark jeans and blazer. Here it is with and without the jacket:

The benefits of clearing closet clutter

For years I have heard the following advice:

Take everything out of your closet. Everything. Then only put back what you absolutely love, love, love. Get rid of the rest, and don't add anything new unless you love that too and are happy every time you get to put it on.

I would have told you that I had actually done that more than once, but the truth is I never really did. I always included some "aspirational" pieces - the ones that have me saying "I want to like that, if only..." or "I like it, but I'm not sure what to wear it with..."

Recently, I did the exercise for real. I took everything out and really only put back what I truly love to wear. The expereince was mind boggling. First, I was left with only enough clothes to fill up one side of my previously full walk in closet! No wonder I always feel like I don't have much to wear! But there was a second side effect...getting dressed each morning got really, really easy. I could see what I have, I know what it goes with, and I was inspired to start mixing and matching the things I love in new ways. It has literally changed my morning routine.

Here's a view into the new closet:

I am SO in love with the empty space on one side. It makes the closet feel so much bigger! I may move some of the back clothes over to the other side eventually so each piece has more space. But for now I'm going to just enjoy being able to see my sneakers.

Full disclosure: the "discard" pile is still sitting on the bed in the guest room. I still can't bring myself to get rid of some of those pieces that I want to wear "only if". I plan to take a rainy day or night to try them on with some of the "loves" to see if I can come up with ways to wear it. But if, after figuring out such an outfit, I don't actually WEAR that outfit in the space of a month or two it's going anyway. If every day for two months I choose to wear something else, that isn't likely to change in 3, 6, or 9 months. That's just the way it is.

I did keep a few things, too, even though I don't wear them now. They're in the spare closet for now. It's mostly classic shapes that I know will come back, but are a little out of vogue now. (e.g. circle skirts) I also allowed myself ONE (and only one) bin of smaller size clothes that I aspire to get into again. And there are a few off season items that I just can't make a decision on right now but will tackle in the fall. The plan is to go through the rest of the pile in the guest room in the next few weeks (before my houseguests come in July) and I am actually looking forward to making the last round of tough decisons and just letting the baggage go.

Try it. I bet you'll like it, too.

My Favorite Things: June 2010

It's time for another installment of "My Favorite Things". Here's what I'm loving this month:

1) Laura Mercier primer, tinted moisturizer, and translucent powder. I was in the market for new foundation, and saw the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer rank #1 in InStyle Magazine's annual beauty issue. Having no better authority to go on, I took the plunge. I'm happy I did. The primer really helps my makeup last, and the tinted moisturizer provides light coverage and SPF in one without feeling heavy. It's rather expensive ($106 for all 3) but I once heard that you should splurge on cosmetics for the areas that need the most help. For me that's my skin. Plus I haven't found a drugstore product that provides the same results.

2) My new lunch tote. Until a few weeks ago I was still carrying the logo lunch bag I got at my last employer. There are so many things wrong with that sentence (corporate swag, 10 year old lunch bag, haven't worked there in almost 5 years) that I decided to get something new and cute. Luckily, I was able to find one that is also infinitely more functional! It has a nice wide opening to fit large bowls of salad, and it just makes me smile when I look at it. Target had some in store in different prints but I liked this one the best so I sucked it up and paid the $7 shipping on an $11 item.

3) Boston Cares. To whom much is given, much is expected. I'm truly blessed, so it's important to me to give back. Unfortunately, my hectic schedule makes it hard for me to find volunteer opportunities. Enter Boston Cares. This group organizes volunteer events and helps people like me find ways to give back no matter how much or how little time we have. I attended a very quick orientation Tuesday night to teach me about the program, and now I'm all set to start signing up for events. (There is a $20 orientation fee but I just consider it a donation.)

4) Switch by Chip & Dan Heath. The first book by this duo - Made To Stick - has been of more use to me than any book I've read in the last 5 years. It's about why some ideas stick (think urban legands) and others don't. As someone who persuades people for a living, the research and recommendations were invaluable. Switch is the sequel, and although I'm only about 40 pages in I'm already hooked. This one is about why people change or don't, and how to get people to change even when it's hard. The writing is so smooth and easy to read, and the concepts are so clearly spelled out it's a pleasure to read. I will say that the findings thus far aren't terribly new to me - my own research deals with changing human behavior and their conclusions support what I've written myself. But they have a way of crystalizing and communicating the ideas that just jumps off the page. (Makes sense given the topic of their first book, right!)

5) Fresh strawberries. There is nothing more delicious than a naturally sweet, fresh strawberry. The season is in full bloom right now and I bought 3 lbs of organic strawberries on sale at Whole Foods this week. Yum!

So there you have it. Five things I'm loving in the month of June 2010.

Be choosy about what you pay attention to

I struggle daily with too many inputs coming into my inbox, mostly digital. Seth Godin's recent blog post on the topic reminded me of two things:

1) Most of this stuff is useless, even though we think (hope!) it might actually be useful one day
2) We have a right to be picky. In a work context, I'd say it's a responsibility.

Magazine tips galore

Memorial Day weekend 2010 involved me spending 10 hours on trains in the course of 3 days. That's a TON of reading time, and for some reason I wasn't into reading books on this trip. Instead I decided to get magazines. Lots and lots and lost of magazines (about 10, actually). While many magazines are full of the same old useless gimmicks rehased, I did come across a few gems of advice that I thought were valuable. Here are some of my favorite:

An organization called New Eyes For The Needy takes donations of old eyeglasses for underdeveloped countries and helps people in the US get free glasses. (Source: Good Housekeeping, June 2010 Issue)

Several different magazines have recently rated Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 15 as the best every day sun defense. I just bought a bottle last month so I'm glad to see it get such high ratings!

Several magazines also highlighted the Lands End striped beach tote in cotton canvas stripes. I think I might have to get myself one since my old beach bag can be tough to carry (straps are too short to fit easily on my shoulder). My only concern with this one is the snap closure - I prefer a zipper for security.

"Go ask the turtle" - great advice from political commentator and strategist Donna Brazil in this month's "O, The Oprah Magazine". The upshot is that someone saw a turtle by the side of the road, assumed it meant to be by the water, and moved it back. But in reality the turtle had spent months walking up there to lay eggs in the mud and this person had just undone all that effort. The moral of the story is before you try to "help" ask the turtle if they need it.

Two books I'd like to read this summer are Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived In That House and Just Let Me Lie Down. The first is a biography written by a woman who got caught up in a real estate obsession in the search for the "perfect" house and the lifestyle she thought it would bring. The latter is written by the managing editor of one of my favorite mags - Real Simple. Both suggestions came from O Magazine, although there was something odd in the O tidbit on the second one. They said "the last word (we hope) on the complicated life of what Real Simple managing editor Van Ogtrop calls a 'half-insane working mom.'" Not sure what the "we hope" is all about. If they're recommending the book they wouldn't also be digging it, right?

Tankinis aren't flattering on anyone, at least not according to O Magazine's Adam Glassman. I had been disappointed in the fit of every tankini I'd ever tried on. Now I don't feel so bad!

Chain-strap cross-body bags are no longer lame. They are now considered appropriate options for going out so you can dance freely without having to worry about your purse. Yeah! (mom will also be happy as she LOVES chain strap cross-body bags but hasn't been able to find one in 15 years)

Glamour's June 2010 issue has a great (if high level) summary of the new healthcare legislation and how it impacts many of the common issues of concern to 20- and 30-something women.

Elizabeth Gore and Ivanka Trump have started a great sounding organization called GirlUp (www.girlup.org) that enables young women in this country to help girls across the world go to school and have other opportunities that are proven to give them a better life and lift their entire communities.

Target is issuing coupons inside magazines. I now have 2 coupons for 20% off any one Merona item, one from each of two magazines. They expire 7/15/2010 so you still have time to go get your own! One came from People StyleWatch. The other was I think from Real Simple though I can't be certain.

There are far more good concerts coming to Boston this summer than I knew about. Thanks to an ad in Improper Bostonian I may have to scope out tickets to see Buffet, Foreigner/Styx, Chicago, Meatloaf, Bret Michaels/Lynard Skynard, and Heart. (Geez, am I a classic rock 80s child or what?!)

You can microwave lipstick to melt it then put it in another container to resolidify and allow you to use the rest. This tip came from People StyleWatch in connection with a product - the Japonesque Lipstick Pallette with melting cup. The magazine says it's for sale at Ulta.com but I couldn't find it there. Only Amazon seems to have it. Better fire that factchecker, People!

You can buy sunscreen wipes to take with you on the go. They're by Supergoop and are available (supposedly) at Nordstrom.

They now make a line of OPI nailpolish that is the color of Shrek's skin. I think I'll pass!

Bright fuscia bags are in to dress up a low key outfit with a pop of color. I love this idea.

Quality, stylish weekend bags are EXPENSIVE! I found two that I really liked but both were $300 plus. I want to replace my logowear gym bag from my last employer but not sure that I want to spend that much. The search will be on this summer for a less expensive alternative. But just to dream, here's my favorite, a canvas bag with leather trip by designer T. Anthony. I don't like the colors on the site, though. The one in the magazine was purple with black trim. I like that best. The ones on the site are BORING!

According to InStyle magazine, swimsuits in 1935 covered 35% of the body. By 1942 that had gone down to 24%. Today it ranges from 14% to single digits. Just one question though - who measures this, and how?! They also say that women on average buy 2 new suits a year, have 4 in their closet, and expect a suit to last 3 years.

Drink suggestion from InStyle - put a vanilla bean pod at the bottom of a champagne glass instead of a strawberry.

That's enough for now, I think! I still have about 5 more magazines to go through for the best tips and tricks. But I'll save those for another post. At least I know I got some value from all of the money I spent on these things!

Birthday Wishes for homeless kids

Birthdays are a big deal to me. I think they should always be celebrated, no matter what age you are. So when I came across the BirthdayWishes organization I was immediately drawn to it. This group throws birthday parties for kids in homeless shelters. It can't cost very much - less than many of us spend on dinner out or throw pillows. But a simple gesture like this can bring so much joy and many happy memories to a child that may not have much else to be happy about.

I plan to organize a goody bag stuffing party and hope to volunteer at a party soon. If you have some time and a few spare dollars consider donating something as simple as the cake mix, or a few party supplies. It's a small gesture that can mean everything to a child.

Save money on home improvement AND do a good deed

I just got this month's issue of Real Simple, which featured a link to the Habitat for Humanity "ReStore". I had no idea this existed, but apparently the charity sells home improvement items that it can't use at a deep discount. Renovators get materials at a low price, and the proceeds go to a great cause. This is a fantastic idea, and one I would definitely use if I had a home to remodel (someday!). Here is the link for those of you into the DIY home repairs:

habitat.org/restore

My Favorite Things: Summer Reading Books

It's almost summertime, and for me that means long warm afternoons by the pool with a good book. I haven't figured out what I'm going to read this year, but wanted to share a few of my past favorites for others to enjoy:

American Wife by Curtis Settenfield - A fictionalized story based on the life of former First Lady Laura Bush. It's a great story, and I was surprised how many of the anecdotes turned out to be true. You have to keep in mind it's fiction, but it sure explains alot!

Jen Lancaster's entire body of work - Jen Lancaster is HYSTERICAL! I laughed out loud (much to the chagrin of my fellow airline passengers) at all four of her autobiographies. They are, in order, Bitter Is The New Black; Bright Lights, Big Ass; Such A Pretty Fat; and Pretty In Plaid. The footnotes are the best - it's snarky but will make you laugh until you cry.

In addition to these books, I love everything by Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner.

I devoured Wedding Belles by Haywood Smith on a recent trip to Aruba.

Read it a few years ago, but I loved Best Friends by Martha Moody.

And Judy Blume's adult books are also great - Summer Sisters and Wifey.

Last summer I read Beach House by Jane Green, which was fantastic. I also liked Second Chance and Swapping Lives by the same author.

Lipstick Jungle by Candice Bushnell (of SATC fame) was excellent. I haven't loved some of her other books, but this I enjoyed very much.

If I find any more this summer I'll post again, but this should be enough to get you started!

Keeping sheet sets neat and tidy

A friend recently told me about a great tip for keeping sheet sets organized. Take one of the pillowcases and slide the flat and fitted sheets and the 2nd pillowcase inside the first pillowcase. Fold over the extra fabric of the storage "bag" and voila - a self contained sheet set in a package!

This is my favorite type of organizing tip - easy to do, easy to remember, and yet extremely helpful. It doesn't take much to make me happy. :-)

Quote of the week - 4/23/10

Gratitude is noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary.

And then taking the nanosecond to feel it.

--Karen Krakower Kaplan

As we approach the spring season, we should all take that nanosecond to stop and notice the beauty and miracle that surrounds us every day.

My Favorite Things - April 2010

It's been easy to love things this month now that the warmer temps are here. It's amazing how much light and warm air affect my mood! Here are 5 things I am enamored with this month.

1) My new Santoku knife. I broke the tip off my old chef's knife last month trying to separate two pieces of frozen chicken, so it was time to buy a new all-purpose knife. My friend L advised me to get a Santoku with a flat blade instead of a traditional chef's knife. I was delighted to see knives from high end maker J.A. Henkles at Target, so I bought a 7" forged steel beauty for the low price of $29.99. I love it! The blade is so sharp, the handle feels great, and the flat blade makes controlling things much easier. I dare say that it's leading me to eat more salads because I am looking for an excuse to chop some veggies just so I get to use my knife. Hey...whatever works!

2) Scented linen spray. I have been trying to get to bed earlier lately to boost my energy level, and one of the ideas I had to make bedtime enticing was scented linen spray. The idea is that you mist your pillowcase with a little scented water and let the smell carry you into dreamland. I found a very nice Ginger Mint scent at HomeGoods for $5.99 and so far it's been very nice. I do recommend spraying things about an hour before you go to bed, though. Any sooner and the smell may be a bit overwhelming (speaking from personal experience on that one!) In addition to HomeGoods a friend just clued me in to the fact that you can get pillow mist at stores like Bath & Body Works. I had trouble finding any and honestly it never occured to me to look there, but I will when this bottle runs out (or when I get sick of the scent and want a new one).

3) Colorful fabric on a corkboard. My guest room/office is decorated in a graphic black and white scheme with pops of lime green in the toss pillows on the bed. I wanted to find a way to bring that color into the other side of the room, so I found a piece of bright green fabric that matches the pillows at my local fabric store (only $1.99!). I stapled it to the cork board above my desk and it changes the entire feel of that side of the room. This is what I face while I work from home or pay bills, and it's just the pop of high energy I wanted in that space. The fabric square was premade and a little narrow for my cork board, so I plan to buy some 1" wide white ribbon and hot glue it around the edges to cover the gap. The whole thing should cost me less than $5 and I absolutely love it.

4) Buds on the trees. My backyard is a conservation land, so when I look out the window or go stand on the balcony I see a line of trees. This morning I noticed that suddenly they'd gone from stark, bare branches to having lovely green mini-leaves all over them. It was like being reborn. (Sounds melodramatic, I know, but I do not do winter well. Spring is a big deal to me -ripe with possibilities).

5) Barnes & Noble. I'm trying to watch less TV, but it's hard to avoid turning the thing on when I get home from work at night. So I've started heading out to B&N some nights. I may sit and thumb through a book I'm thinking of getting, flip through magazines to look at pretty pictures, or just people-watch. Our local store has a Starbucks cafe and a large lounge style area with several easy chairs and tables. It's really a great place to relax, or even go when you need to concentrate on work but not go into the office. I worked an entire Sunday there and got far more done than I would have sitting at home distracted by dishes or laundry that needed doing.

So there you have it. Five things I love this month. Happy Spring!

Spring has come to my dining room!

This winter, my redecorating bug was all about achieving a calm, serene look in the apartment. But now that spring is here, I want to punch it up with some serious color! I am attracted to all sorts of bright fun colors and patterns. And luckily the neutral backdrop I created doesn't preclude me from mixing it up a little bit!
I started with a super-cheap, super-practical impulse purchase at Home Goods tonight. This purple pitcher is actually acrylic, not glass, making it very easy to store. It can be used for flowers or drinks (with a good scrubbing in between!) and looks fantastic as a centerpiece. The best part - it was only $7.99! The flowers were half price after Easter, and the other accessories (runner, votive holders) were already on hand.

I love the way it looks - it brings so much color to that side of the apartment! I also got a big hot pink acrylic bowl that I'm going to swap in soon. Stay tuned for more pictures!

Photo Frame Calendar

I'm getting rid of old magazines as part of my spring cleaning, and I always go through them one last time to see if there are any articles or idea I want to clip and save. I found one, and rather than take out the scissors I found the project online and will just link to it here. The project is a photo calendar, but not one with a different image per month. Basically you just take a photo frame, put hooks on the bottom, and hang calendar pages from them based on templates on marthastewart.com.

http://www.marthastewart.com/goodthings/photo-calendar

I like that the project allows you to keep a nice clean look around your desk but still have something practical like a calendar handy when you need it. And there's no rule saying that you can't change the pictures monthly (or seasonally) if you want a new view!

Egg Safety

Tonight I was trying to decide whether or not to use the eggs in my fridge to make Matzoh balls because they were about 23 days past the "best by" date on the carton. My mom told me they were fine, but I'm paranoid so I went searching around and found this site:

http://www.eggsafety.org/f_a_q.htm

Thought I'd share in case anyone else faces the same issue. And yes, the eggs are fine. The matzoh balls are chillin' in the fridge now!

Tennis Ball Birthday Cake

I went to a birthday party this weekend that had the most amazingly decorated Curious George cake (it was a party for a 2 year old). The cake reminded me of a few of the fancy cakes I have made in the past for my mom. One of my favorites was a tennis ball cake I made for her 2 years ago. She's a big tennis buff, and this cake was the envy of her entire tennis team. And it was decidedly simple to make, too!

1) Make a regular boxed cake mix in the Betty Crocker Bake-n-Fill round pan. (I borrowed it from a friend).

2) Buy some neon food coloring. Mix the green and yellow into a can of white frosting until it gets to be that neon tennis ball green. (I kept a real ball next to me for comparison).

3) Using a large star tip, pipe green stars all over the entire cake.

4) Using a small round tip, take white decorator icing and pipe two cruved lines around the cake like you would see on a tennis ball.

Done! Easy as pie, and looks great. I will post images of mine later - I have to scan them in first.

My favorite organizing book

I was traveling on business this week, and during a presentation to real clients mentioned that organizing is a hobby/passion of mine. After listening to me talk for 3 hours about work stuff two women stopped me to ask one question - how do we get organized!?!

I pointed them to my favorite organizing book as a great starting point - Julie Morganstern's "Organzing From The Inside Out".

My favorite things about this book are:

1) The analysis at the front breaking down reasons for disorganization. They range from the uber-practical (nothing's put away because it doesn't have a home) to the very deep (people use clutter as a way to avoid emotional intimacy). Reading that section alone was a huge help for me to identify what solution is right in a given situation based on the root cause of the issue.

2) The emphasis on working with your natural tendencies. Many disorganized people think somehow they're bad people for being disorganized. But the truth is we all have systems we use to keep track of things and some natural tendencies for keeping things in order. The idea that it's not the person whose broken, just the system, is refreshing for people I work with. It's also easier to study the systems that do work for people and make minor adjustments to those than to make them try to relearn a totally new routine for things they do almost on autopilot, like put down the mail after a long day of work.

There are a myriad of other things I love about this book, but those were two of my biggest ah-ha moments. If you buy only one organizing book ever, I recommend it be this one. Thanks, Julie!

Prevent (or at least delay) fading of dark wash jeans

Stacy and Clinton from "What Not To Wear" always say to wear dark wash, straight legged jeans with no tears, rips, fairs, etc. Such jeans are VERY hard to find, so I try to take care of them when I find them. I don't go as far as dry cleaning them - that's just not practical for me. But I have devised a strategy that seems to help:

1) Wash them inside out.

2) Put 1/2 cup vinegar in the wash the first time you wash them (got this tip from someone at J.Crew)

3) Only wash your jeans every 2 or three wears.

4) If they're just stretched out, not dirty, use at-home dry cleaning kits like Dryel to steam and freshen them without washing.

5) Hang dry, don't put them in the dryer.

So far this seems to have worked for me. What are your favorite tips for keeping jeans or other clothes looking their best wear after wear?

Organizing Tip Of The Week: Tax Paperwork

Taxes are due in exactly one month. Yikes! I just finished putting my paperwork together to send to my accountant, which only took about 20 minutes. It's easy because I have a file folder at the front of my file cabinet labeled "Tax Paperwork". Throughout the year, whenever anything comes in that I might need for my taxes I put it in there. Most of it comes in January (W2s, 1099s, etc) but I do get donation receipts and a few other forms throughout the year. I put them straight into that folder so that when tax time rolls around I don't have to go digging through the rest of my files and try to remember what I am supposed to include.

I highly suggest setting up such a folder for yourself, especially if you make alot more deductions than I do (my return is pretty basic). It saves alot of hassle and gives you peace of mind that you're not forgetting something that might lead the IRS to come knocking at your door later!

Take the "No Phone Zone" pledge

I have decided to take the Oprah Winfrey "No Phone Zone" pledge. I encourage you to do the same. Texting while driving kills, and is 100% unnecessary. Talking on the phone while driving is dangerous, too. I'd prefer people stop altogether, or pull to the side of the road if you must. There is an option to agree to only talk handsfree if you must talk.

There is not one conversation in the world that is worth risking someone else's life and safety. So please put the phone down, keep your hands on the wheel, and your eyes and mind on the road.

Your fellow drivers will thank you for it.

Ever wonder what a first cousin twice removed is?

I ran into a cousin today while shoe shopping, and someone asked me what kind/level of cousin. She's the daughter of my grandfather's first cousin so I knew it was somewhat far removed, but never could keep that "second cousin twice removed" stuff straight in my head.

Wikipedia to the resuce! I found the cousin page that includes a great little chart to help you figure it out.

It turns out she's my first cousin twice removed. At least I think so! So confusing...

Quote of the week 3/3/10

So the "quote of the week" feature hasn't exactly been weekly yet. I'm working on that whole consistency thing. But here's one that is speaking to me this week:

An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth.

--Bonnie Friedman

I've been feeling very harried lately and so I'm trying to focus on slowing down and calming down. That means less sensory input - no TV, less time on the computer, more time focused on a single task at a time. It is amazing how much more peaceful I feel when I eliminate the constant chatter of the modern world, of only for a little while.

Cleaning without the chemicals

Lately I've really be getting into reducing the volume of chemicals in my daily life. That includes in my food, and in my home. My favorite blog, Young House Love, recently featured an article in one of my favorite magazines, Real Simple, about how to clean your house with natural things you likely already have on hand. Here's their post:

http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/03/real-simple-solutions/

I'm definitely going to print this out and use it as a reference on my next big cleaning spree (should be soon - it's almost Spring!!).

They also referenced a second article titled 66 All Natural Cleaning Solutions that seems worth checking out. My only peeve is the format that Real Simple uses on it's Web site that makes you scroll through screen after screen to see all the content. As someone who specializes in Web site usability this makes me want to tear my hair out - why must you torture me so? Give me a regular article, please!! But alas, I suffer through it because the content is worthwhile.

What are your favorite tricks for natural cleaners? I posted one of mine for cleaning the commode a while back. But I'm always looking for more ideas.

When to buy organic produce?

I have decided to start eating more organic produce and meats in order to eliminate pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones that aren't natural. I'm sure I could find science to go either way on the issue, but my common sense tells me that foods without alot of chemicals or tampering by humans are better for me.

In order to decide which foods are worth paying the organic premium, I asked the members of several online women's groups that I am a part of. One member pointed me to a great site called foodnews.org that lists fruits and veggies by their pesticide load. The ones at the top are worth buying organic. Those at the bottom are OK to buy conventional. They even have a great little wallet card they'll send you as a cheat-sheet in the grocery store.

I'm definitely going to take this into account during my future trips to the grocery store. The "Dirty Dozen" are foods I eat very often so it's likely I was eating more chemicals than I realized up to this point. No more! The research I've read also says that many organic foods actually have higher nutrient content than their convetionial counterparts so I'll get more bang for my fruit & veggie buck on top of it.

http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php

It's Send One Suit weekend

I have always been a big supporter of Dress For Success, an organization that helps struggling women put together professional outfits for job interviews so they can get a well-paying job and get their lives back on track. I donate year-round if I have appropriate clothes, but this weekend is "Send One Suit" weekend. You can drop off any suit or business separates at Dress Barn stores around the country and they will send it to Dress For Success. I strongly encourage you to participate! It's a great way to clear the clutter in your closet in preparation for spring, and help others at the same time. For more information check out the event website.

Great makeup remover find

I just got back from vacation with my BFF from college, K. She is a veritable encyclopedia of all things skincare and has tried pretty much every product or system out there. During the trip she let me try her makeup remover, Boscia's "Makeup Breakup" product. Wow. I was amazed at how well it worked to remove all my makeup - foundation, concealer, leftover eye makeup (after the eye makeup remover did it's thing). My skin looked great after a few days using it before my regular cleanser. You can bet that I'll be hitting the mall this weekend to pick some up for myself. Thanks K!

Thinking summer - new beachwear for 2010

It's mid-February, cold, snowy, and generally blah her in New England. But I'm thinking of warm weather for sure. It's time for a new swimsuit (mine is 4 years old) and I'm loving this mix and match set from Target.com. (Top and bottom both online)

I'm also loving this cover-up from Target because it covers my shoulders, which are prone to burning when all I have to put on over my swimsuit is a tank top. I don't mess around with sun-protection so a cover-up is a must. (an umbrella is even better!)

Daydreaming about warm weather is a survival skill employed by every New Englander this time of year, so I know I'm not alone. It's a little scary to think about swimsuit weather given how pale and bundled-up I am right now, but hopefully it will motivate me to get to the gym a little more often between now and when the mercury starts to rise!

My Favorite Things - February 2010

Time for this month's installment of "favorite things." Here's what I'm loving right now.

1. My new "Snuggie". OK, so it's not a real Snuggie because I didn't like the colors it came in. But my mom bought me a generic Snuggie (called a Snuggle) in dark green. I am wearing it right now and let me tell you...it is the best thing ever! I am always cold, and spend many nights on my computer on the couch. The Snuggie allows me to keep the heat down, surf my favorite blogs, and stay toasty warm!

2. Pyrex Portables. The second present my mom got me this weekend was an 8 x 11 Pyrex dish with a lid and a carrying case. It is awesome, because I attend alot of potlucks and always struggle to transport my culinary masterpieces (lol!) to the party. This solves the problem. It comes with a hot/cold pack, the dish, a lid, and carrying case with a handle. This baby's going to get alot of use!

3. My Garmin GPS. Anyone who knows me knows that I lack any sense of direction. My GPS gives me the confidence to go places and do things that I might not have done otherwise. Granted, it sometimes sends me home via some wacky routes. But I definitely feel as though I'm much more of an explorer with it than I was without it.

4. Real Simple magazine. I have a love/hate relationship with magazines. Sometimes I think they just rehash the same over-simplified advice month after month. But Real Simple I like, enough that I asked for a subscription for my birthday. I get alot of great ideas, advice, and reference sources from the magazine each month. A few of my favorite parts are the quote at the front of the magazine and the reader answers to a "Question Of The Month" (a friend was in there once!).

5. My new black boots. I had the same black ankle boots for years, and this year they had finally reached the end of their useful life (only after being re-heeled 3 times). So I went off to DSW to look for a new pair. I wasn't sure I was going to find that "perfect" boot again, but I did! They're Franco Sarto boots with a 3" block heel and a zipper up the back. I wore them to work a few days later and wow - they are SO comfortable! The heel is thicker than my old pair which makes them feel better for walking. And they look great with jeans or dress pants. Plus I only paid $64.95 for them. Given how often I expect to wear these boots and how long they'll likely last, they were a great deal.

Quote Of The Week 2/16/10

I love quotes. I collect them, in fact. So as a regular feature on the blog I'm going to post a favorite quote. Today I'll start with two, because I think they're both variations on the same idea. I suspect Colin Powell was familiar with the Aristotle quote and just put itin his own words:

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.
- Colin Powell

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
- Aristotle

Love is...

Today is Valentine's Day, and you might think that as a single girl I'd be all sad and mopey. I'm not, because I realized today that love is about so much more than a romantic relationship. Sure, I wish I had Mr. Right next to me on the couch right now. But I have so much love in my life that when I do find him it will just be the icing on the cake. Until then, I take heart in the fact that love is...

• Helping your mom with all things technology-related
• Lunch with your family at a local diner
• A valentine's day card from your grandfather
• Little gifts from your mother that she gives you for no reason (I got a Snuggie!!)
• Visiting someone in the hospital even though hospitals creep you out
• Giving someone a birthday present they like
• The time and effort a friend puts in to having people over
• When someone gets excited about the anniversary of your first "friend-date"
• The excitement you feel about finally visiting with a friend despite your busy schedules
• Offering to watch a friend's child so she can spend time alone with her husband
• A friend trusting you enough to leave their child with you
• A two year old asking you to read a book to them "again, again!"

All these things happened to me in the last 2 days. So while I may not have gotten any roses today, I have no shortage of love to celebrate.

I've been pegged (at least my design style has!)

I got my first gift-subscription issue of Real Simple magazine in the mail today, and the editor's letter piqued my interest right off the bat. It talked about the difficulty many women have putting a name to their personal design style. The article pointed me to a quiz on p. 158 that promised to help me name my style. I was skeptical, but what the heck...off to p. 158 I go.

The quiz was unique - it had no words. Only pictures of items with directions to circle the items that appeal to you visually. I'm not normally a visual person so this was a neat exercise for me. There were letters associated with each image, and after you were done the goal was to count up how many "As" you circled, how many "Bs", etc.

I had mostly Cs and As, which translate in their scoring system to two styles - Sophisticated Classic and Cozy Comfort.

Wow. That's actually pretty spot on. In real life I'm all about cozy comfort, but I aspire to be more sophisticated and classic in most areas - decor, clothing, reading and listening preferences. I typically end up with a room that's somewhere in between. Comfortable and cozy with a few sleek pieces thrown in.

The article also suggested a few places I might like to shop in both categories, and where to shop if you fall in between two of them. A few of the stores were brands I already like such as Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, and Ralph Lauren. But there were a few new ones I'd never heard of, like Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Baker, and Ballard Designs.

If you're trying to find your style, pick up a copy of the mag and take the quiz - it might help you focus a bit. I also like the quiz associated with the HGTV series Find Your Style (I can no longer find it in between 875 consecutive episodes of House Hunters, but it was a good show) . Luckily the quiz is still up on the site even though the show itself seems to be gone.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

It was my luck to be born to a father in the jewelery business. So I have always had a taste for fine jewelery that has far outweighed my budget. I saved up and bought myself a pair of diamond earrings for my 30th birthday, which I love and wear on special occasions.

Right now there are two more items on my wish list. Given that it's the freezing depths of winter I thought sharing pretty, shiny things might make us all feel a little happier. Being single I know I won't be receiving any such baubles for Valentine's Day this year, but who knows...someday.

If I were to be asked what I want for Valentine's Day, this would be at the top of my list:

Blue topaz surrounded by diamonds, set in white gold.

In additon to that, I do plan to someday have the diamond from my grandmother's engagement ring set into a pendant. I was helping a coworker decide what to do with her too-small wedding set this weekend when I saw this bezel setting at a jewelers in downtown Boston:

I normally don't like bezel sets but this one was so thin it almost disappears. I love how delicate it looks, but still keeps the stone safe.

Someday...

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Today's soup swap was a rousing success, and all 5 soups were delicious! I want to share them so others can enjoy the yumminess, starting with my friend L's tasty tortilla soup. She started with a recipe but made so many modifications it officially became her own creation. Whatever she did - it worked! Just beware - it makes like 18 cups of soup. Great for a big family, a big get-together, or for those with plenty of freezer space.

Note - the recipe uses shallots instead of onions because one of our friends is allergice to white, yellow, and red onions. But you could use regular onions instead.

Tortilla Soup

Ingredients
1 rotiserie chicken
6 cups of chicken broth
2 cups of water
1/4 cup flour
2 tsp apple cidar vinegar
1 (15 ounce) can chopped tomatoes
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
3 shallots, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 can of black beans rinced

7 corn tortillas
vegetable oil

Directions

Soup
1. Remove Chicken from bones.
2. Boil Bones, skin, broth and water and vinegar for several hours
3. Drain stock from bones and put back in stock pot
4. Wisk 1/2 cup of water with the flour and add to the stock pot
4. Add Everything but the chicken
5. Simmer for 2-3 hours - then remove the bay leaf
6. Chop the chicken and add after you take the soup off the heat.

Tortilla Strips
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet.
3. Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 8 - 10 minutes.

To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup. We also topped our soup with a little bit of shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, and sour cream.

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

I made my soup for this Saturday's "soup swap" and I'm delighted with how it all came out. The recipe is very easy, so I thought I'd share.

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

This would make a quick, healthy dinner for 4 on a cold, busy weeknight if you paired it with a big salad and half a sandwich.

Party Idea: Soup Swap

I recently learned (from Real Simple magazine) that January is National Soup Month. To celebrate, I decided to host a small gathering at my place and call it a "soup swap." What is a "soup swap"? It's like a cookie swap, but with soup. (Note that I've never been to a cookie swap so I'm pretty much making this up as I go along).

The idea is that everyone brings a big batch of their favorite soup. We all sample the soups for lunch, along with some yummy crusty bread, saltines, and oyster crackers and a big salad. Then everyone takes a sample of their favorites home in disposable plastic ware. We all have soup for lunch for the next week, with a nice variety, without having to cook 5 different types of soups. And people are also supplying their recipes so others can recreate the soup again in their own kitchen.

At this point there will be 5 people, including myself. I think it's a nice number - who can eat more than 5 soups in one sitting, really?

So if you're looking for something to do inside on a cold Saturday or Sunday this winter, consider hosting a "soup swap" of your own. Here's my list of must-have party supplies and host-supplied menu items to get you started:

• Paper bowls for soup sampling
• One package of plastic ware bowls with lids per attendee (~ 4 per pack)
• Soup spoons
• Ladles (or ask guest to bring their own)
• Crusty whole grain baguette, cut into chunks for dipping into soup
• Saltines
• Oyster crackers
• Beverages and cups
• Napkins

Also consider how you are going to keep the soups warm during the party. I can fit 4 on my stove top on simmer, and several others if they are in a Crockpot that can be plugged into outlets on the counter.

That's about it. I'm hoping it's a pretty low key way to get some friends together for a warm, comforting, tasty afternoon!

Shortcut for cutting baby carrots

I often buy baby carrots to put on salad, but struggle to cut them into smaller chunks with a knife because they are small and they roll. The other day as I was chopping I looked at my knife block and said "hey, I wonder if my kitchen shears would be easier..." I tried them and sure enough, using the scissors to snip the carrots into small pieces is infinitely easier!

Of course you should only do this if your shears are kept clean enough to touch food directly, but mine are. I now only use the shears to cut baby carrots and it takes seconds instead of minutes, with much less risk to my fingers. That's my kind of shortcut - easy and safer!

Dining room debut

Since early 2009 I have been itching to redecorate my apartment. It took me a while to convince myself that it wasn't a frivolous endeavor, and to find my style. But it's finally starting to come together. One of the easiest rooms has been the dining room because it's so small I have to keep it pretty simple. This room was also the place where I first started experimenting with mixing textures and colors based on what I've learned from all the design blogs I read. It's not 100% done - I still want to get a new table* - but I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

Here's a rundown of the various elements in the room, where they came from, and the cost:

Wall Paint - Valspar "Woodrow Wilson Putty" from Lowe's ($21.75/gallon)

Silver Frames - IKEA RIBBA frames 8 3/4" x 11" (only $4.99 each!)
Canvas Rose Prints - Home Goods ($39.99 each)

Table runner - Home Goods ($13.80)

Updated pictures for frames - various photogs ($39.08)

Total cost of the makeover: $192.03

I already had the chairs (JCPenney), centerpience (Bed, Bath & Beyond), mirrored hutch (mom), and extra chair (JCPenney, cover from Target) so those were repurposed in the makeover. And I sold an old side table I didn't need for $10 on Craigslist, so that money offset some of the costs. Even so, this is a pretty cheap project for such a dramatic difference in the way the room looks. I love it!

And just for comparison, here is the closest I have to "before" pictures, taken right before a holiday party I had in 2008:

*My current table is a very traditional Ducan Fife style table that belonged to my great-grandmother. It's increadibly well-made in solid mahogony, but wasn't taken care of for many, many years so it's in rough shape. It's a bit too traditional for my taste otherwise I'd just have it refinished. But instead I'm going to sell it to an antiques person who can really restore it and use the proceeds to get a more contemporary table in a dark espresso finish.

Use a small roller to make painting easier

I've painted ALOT of rooms over the years, and used to get very frustrated when the roller would bump the ceiling or wall unintentionally. I felt like it was very hard to control the roller, and my painting quality suffered. The last time that happened I had an idea - what if I used a smaller roller? Would it be easier to maneuver? So when I painted my bathroom recently I switched from a 9" roller to a 6" roller. Jackpot!!!

The 6" roller was so much easier for my small hands to work. It's easier to use in small spaces and in corners. And, counter intuitive though it may be, the small roller actually makes the job go much faster. With greater control I am not fighting against my tools and can move the roller over the wall more easily and quickly. So even though it takes a few more strokes to cover the same space the painting goes much faster. I recently painted my entire guest room this way and it only took me 3 hours. That's for 2 coats, including all edging, done entirely by myself.

So for the ladies out there, if you have trouble handling a standard 9" paint roller consider the smaller 6" size. I think you'll like it.

Eco-friendly (and cheap!) toilet bowl cleaner

I'm looking for ways to cut back on the chemicals in my home, and it turns out you can replace most of those fancy, expensive cleaners with some basic household products that your great grandma would have had on hand. The one product that had me stumped, though, was toilet bowl cleaner. What could replace that bleaching gel?

Vinegar + Baking Soda

The ladies on one of my cleaning forums suggested pouring about a cup of vinegar in the bowl, then sprinkling baking soda around the sides and a little in the water. Scrub as usual with a toilet brush, and voila - clean bowl! I tried it and it works like a dream. No fancy bleach or smelly chemicals needed.

I like that it's super inexpensive, natural (and therefore not harmful to the sewer system or water supply), and uses things that I can now keep in bulk and use for multiple purposes.

Getting out grease stains

In an odd role reversal, my mother called me with a domestic question the other night. How to get a grease stain out of her favorite khakis. I had no idea, but a quick Google found that the most common remedy was plain old dish soap. Put it on the stain, rub it in, let set, then wash immediately. Lather, rinse, repeat until the stain is gone. Only put it in the dryer once the stain is totally gone or it will set.

Mom called last night to report that it worked. She let it sit for about 2 hours (because she fell asleep on the couch) and when she washed the pants the stain was gone.

So if you're s truggling to get a grease stain out - food grease or black grease (this was black) - head to the kitchen for some good, old-fashioned grease fighter.

More scarf storage ideas

In one of the online decorating forums I belong to, someone asked for ideas to organize her scarves on the inside of a closet door. Since I had just posted my scarf orgazining solution the other day, I was interested to see what other ideas people shared. Here were a few that I thought were neat using products I'd never seen before:

A scarf hanger:
http://www.foryouforhome.com/ScarfOrganizer.html

An over the door purse/hat rack:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14181504

An over the door towel rack:
http://www.amazon.com/Aquatico-Orel-Triple-Towel-Chrome/dp/B002BWOOLQ
(you'd have to tie them to keep them from slipping, but that's not hard)

So there you go. A few more ideas for organizing scarves on the back of your closet door.

A simple way to give back at the grocery store

One of my goals for 2010 is to do more to give back for all of the blessings I've been given. But with my crazy schedule it can be hard to find the time. So I've been thinking of ways to give back without too much extra effort.

I came up with an idea that I used tonight. When I make a big grocery run (typically once a month) I include one paper bag in the cart along with my reusable bags. As I'm shopping I fill that paper bag with staple, non-perishable foods like peanut butter, jelly, soup, cereal, and canned veggies. It gets scanned into my regular order (I use the handy self-scanner as I shop) and on my way out the door I drop the paper bag into the box for our local food pantry.

The whole thing adds no more than 5 minutes to my shopping trip, but will help many people over the course of the year. It adds more to my grocery bill, but I figure that I'm trading off time for money. There are so many people struggling in this difficult economy. It's the least I can do.

So the next time you're at the store consider purchasing just a few items for those without enough to eat in this country. Maybe take those coupons for stuff you might not normally use and apply them to food for a pantry. It's an easy way to turn a sometimes tedious errand into an act of kindness.

Organizing (and re-matching) orphaned socks

A few years ago I came up with a system for re-matching orphaned socks while doing laundry. It's really very simple and low tech, so I thought I'd share with all of you.

When I'm folding laundry, I take a gallon-sized Ziploc baggie and put all the mismatched socks into it. I then stuff the bag into the side of the drawer until the next time I do laundry. At that time I dump out the bag's contents and match up any of the socks in there with mates from the current load of wash. Whatever can't be matched up then goes back in the bag until next time. Lather, rinse, repeat!

If there is a sock that's been unmatched for more than a month or two, it goes in the trash.

I also try to sweep behind the washer and dryer once a month for both safety purposes, and because socks sometimes fall into the spaces on either side of the machines. If I find any stragglers I wash them with the next load and they go into the regular matching pool.

That's it. Total cost about 10 cents.

New bedding from Crate & Barrel

I am abnormally picky about bedding, but the new Madison pattern from Crate & Barrel is fantastic. I bought it in two colors - taupe and green - with the idea that I'd use it in either my master or my guest room. After trying both, I may keep them both! What do you think - is it weird to have the same duvet cover in two rooms as long as it's two different colors?


I plan to do white pillow shams and accent pillows in a complimentary but different pattern. Once I have it all put together I will post pictures, but for now here are the pics from the C&B Website:















In real life the green is much more green than it seems here - this looks more yellowy. I love it! Very modern and fresh - just what I've been looking for.