To Do SLC: Art Market

This is not to be missed. It was wonderful during the holidays--a truly wonderful discovery indeed. Use this as an opportunity to stock up on baby gifts or future birthday gifts for friends and family. In addition, you get to support local, uber-talented artisans--of which there are many in Utah I've realized in the past few years.

Put this one in ink...February 9th.

Turtle Papers GIVEAWAY Winner

...and the lucky winner is,

Hailey Kandell who said, "those papers are adorable".

Please email me your mailing address Hailey!

Many thanks to everyone who commented and entered this giveaway. Turtle Papers was so appreciative of all the wonderful things you said that they offered to do another giveaway in a few months. Now that is something to look forward to!

Click here to view Turtle Papers' Etsy shop for more goodness.

Spring '08 Fashion Trends

a la Alison (a dear fashionista friend o' mine)

Spring 08 - Think flirty and feminine!

1) Dresses continue - look for the maxi dress (all the way to the ankle)

2) Color blocking - coats and dresses (2 tone)

3) Belts - update your babydoll and full dresses from last season by
cinching a belt around the waist

4) Lace - all colors

5) Colors - all shades of pink, purple, and silver grey

Affordable option here.

In-my-Dreams option here.

P.S. Missoni I love you...do you ever go on sale? No you say? I'll keep dreaming then...

Accessory Spruce Up

I love this picture and the mix of traditional, modern, country, everything. Very cool. Once in a design magazine I saw a planter like this (holding several orchids) atop an acrylic coffee table in a loft-like space. I wish I'd saved it in my design binder so I could share it with you. I guess this is where "imagination" comes into play :)

I spied these carved wooden vessels at my local Homegoods (sister to TJ Maxx) this week for much less than at Pottery Barn.

And speaking of good deals...Modern Materials Design (Highland & 13th) is closing their retail store and all accessories are 30% off. I spied many of the same rectangular vases (see picture below) you see at Pottery Barn for half the price. This might be a good time to purge your living space of unused decorative items by making a donation to a local charity or selling them on Craigslist. After, reward yourself a new accessory to keep things interesting around the house. It's fun to mix things up a little every once and again.

Menu of the Week

It's funny, this "Menu of the Week" thing...given that I actually create a menu only once every two weeks :) One week I'm really motivated to eat well and therefore I cook well. But it's difficult to pull off with 3 kids, so I am usually burned out after one week of cooking nice meals. The next week we subsist on frozen pizza, take out, "brupper" (breakfast for supper), etc. Then after a week of that I'm sick of eating in such a way so I go back to planning a nice menu.

And the cycle continues....

Rosemary & Garlic Studded Leg of Lamb (1st lamb venture) with Rosemary Flageolets (substituting navy beans--can't find flageolets in SLC)

Cauliflower and Ham Gratin, Salad, Fruit

Vegetable Beef Soup, (I add 1 lb. of ground beef to original recipe; freezes well too), Virginia Light Rolls

Cobb Salad with Garlic Vinaigrette & a crusty loaf of bread

Black Bean Burritos with Garlic, Cumin & Cilantro; Salad with Avocado & Cilantro; Spanish Rice

Grilled Red Snapper with Lemon Fingerling Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli

If you have some fabulous recipes I need to try, please email me!

Jacket Re-Work

When pregnant with my last child I picked this up at Target because I thought it looked very "Audrey Hepburn" in style--a style I love. The jacket was decent in contruction and fully lined...surprising for a $30 jacket. The one problem? The buttons cheapened the jacket in a big way. I decided to head to Fashion Affair on 33rd in attempt to find some higher quality buttons, preferably in a vintage look to match the style of the jacket.

I found success, bought some thread, and whipped out my little sewing kit I've schlepped around for the past 13 years (it was a h.s. graduation gift). Even someone like me, who is incapable of sewing a straight line even while guided on a machine, can sew on a button. That means you can too :)

Do you have something you can re-work too?

the Comparison Trap

I love being a woman and I am happy to know many women who enhance my life in different ways just by being their true authentic self. However, I am sad for us all when comparison becomes the topic of conversation. The comparison trap is so unnecessary...everyone has something different to offer after all. Sometimes we women verbalize this comparison, other times the words aren't said but manifested instead in our actions or expressions. Either way it's no good for anyone--it is really a trap! It is far more fulfilling to accept others and to be happy for their joys and successes while still maintaining a healthy self-concept. If God loves us for who we are, shouldn't we love who we are?

I'm making this my New Year's resolution #11.
Each of us has something to learn according this article here. It is a well-written, gentle article.

A concise, thoughtful, short article on overcoming comparison here.

An honest article Today's Christian Woman on the comparison trap here.

A life coach's five recommendations for overcoming comparison here.

photo per San Diego Historical Society

More Goodness a la Donna

I'm ready for a bike ride in the countryside complete with handsome husband, gourmet picnic, and lots of sunshine. The snow is beautiful but these photos make me yearn for springtime. Since I always have lemons around (I buy a big bag at Costco twice monthly) why not make some thyme lemon spritzer to tide myself over until warmer days?

Thyme Lemon Spritzer

1 c. superfine sugar
1 c. water
1 sprig thyme
2 c. crushed ice
3 c. sparkling mineral water
1 TB. fresh lemon juice
thyme sprigs for garnish

Place the sugar and water in a saucepan over low heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the thyme, increase the heat to medium and bring to the boil. Simmer for 5-8 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat, strain, and allow to cool. Pour the thyme syrup over crushed ice, top with mineral water and lemon juice and stir to combine. Add the extra sprigs of thyme as garnish. Serves 4.


Note: serve with the Barefoot Contessa Cheese Straws made from puff pastry dough. Super easy!

All photos and recipe per Donna Hay magazine

Rendevous a Paris Si'l Vous Plait

Romance is in the air. Literally. Multiple airlines are boasting European specials through March (including Valentine's Day!). This has me thinking of going myself...I mean with the husband. Wouldn't it be dreamy? (so Back to the Future of me to say that I know). It would be a different experience if an apartment in a residential neighborhood were the choice of lodging than say the JW Marriott on Champs Elysses. A petit chateau (do they come in "petit" I wonder?) in Provence wouldn't be too shabby either :)

Here are some great sites for booking your next furnished apartment or chateau in France. I gleaned these from the actual (not online) classifieds section of a major French newspaper in hopes they would be less touristy than other sites you might find. They are all fantastic sites and all worth perusing.

Option 1, click here. Option 2, click here. Option 3, click here. Option 4, click here.

One more thing, if you are heading to France with your kiddies in tow, click here to read this wonderful article in Cookie about managing Paris with kids. I'm bookmarking this one for sure! The pictures included in the magazine article are delectable but the online article is sans photos so if you see a Cookie mag at a market near you, pick one up and glance at the lovely photographs of children playing in Paris. So lovely!

Note: Cookie just informed me that there are in fact pictures from the spread online. View them here.

Our Budding Vegetarian

E: Mom, can I have two muffins tonight instead of just one?

Mom: Sure, as long as you eat everything else on your plate first (steak & broccoli)

E: I don't really like to eat this stuff (pointing to steak); it's from an animal and I don't like to eat animals.

An excellent strategy indeed.

Clutter-Control Wisdom of the Ages

...a la Domino magazine. I love these--short and sweet.


1. Open mail over the trash or recycling bin, and conduct all of your bill-paying online.

2. Do a Daily 5-Minute Cleanup. Patrol hot spots throughout the house where stuff tends to gather, and make a quick sweep.

3. File newspapers and magazines once a week. If you haven't looked at something in two weeks, toss it.

4. Purge wire hangers monthly. Keep an eye on closets for empty hangers and return them to your local dry cleaner. (note: IKEA and Nordstrom Rack offer inexpensive wooden hangers to tidy up your closet)

5. Clear closets yearly. Give up the notion that your vintage jacket is an "important, possibly historic, piece". Take clothes you don't wear to the Salvation Army (or D.I., or Goodwill, etc.)

6. Arrange wardrobe by type. Sort clothes into categories (jackets, pants, etc.) and then colors, which will make dressing much faster.

7. Fold sheet sets inside one of the pillowcases, and store in the linen closet as a unit.

8. Don't over stuff drawers. Never let a drawer get more than 3/4 full or it will become a jammed mess.

9. Eliminate unused items in the kitchen. Go through cabinets and drawers, and collect never-used small appliances and utensils for Goodwill.

10. Make a list before you shop. Take stock of what you need in order to get things under control--more skirt hangers? another under-bed storage box?--and figure out where everything will go. Measure! (note: take that one step further and put paint swatches of your walls inside your wallet)

For more tips, see right hand column. I placed a few links permanently on the blog for perusing.

Turtle Papers GIVEAWAY

Let's face it, giving is way more fun than receiving. With that in mind let's open up another giveaway!

I've professed my love for Turtle Papers before, but I'll do it again. I LOVE everything from this fabulous stationer. Her designs are unique, feminine, colorful, happy, and eye-catching. Click here to view the Turtle Papers Etsy shop and you'll see what I mean! Turtle Papers has been kind enough to offer up a little something to a lucky lady (or man I guess!)...a set of 6 folded blank note cards valued at $9. If you are like me, you find that simple blank notes fit the bill for most occasions.

Here is a little look-see at the giveaway offering:


Giveaway Guidelines:

- You have 5 days to enter this giveaway (closes Wednesday, January 30th).
- Make a comment on THIS POST to enter.
- All anonymous comments will be ignored.
- One entry per person please.
- The randomly chosen winner will be announced Thursday, January 31st.
- Giveaway winner must email me by Thursday, February 7 at 5 p.m. to secure prize.

If you miss out on the giveaway, click here to purchase these adorable everyday cards. Oh, and take a look below at some other offerings at the Turtle Papers Etsy shop. Isn't everything tempting?

Love this Baby Girl

Occupation: Mommy's #1 Fan

Abilities: Unload the contents of Mom's sock and lingerie drawers; sweep all books off every lower shelf of every bookcase in the home; smile, laugh and tease everyone in sight but only from the safety of Mom's arms; rip pages of every publication left on the floor; throw body against shower door in hopes Mom will get out earlier and hold me; eat, drink and be merry; laugh and giggle constantly; entertain family; scream loudly at any potential babysitter.

Favorite (and only) Words: "mama", "papa", "uh-oh"

Favorite Foods: anything bread related, Brown Cow Cream Top organic yogurt and pureed sweet potatoes

Daddy Loves: observing her blossoming sense of humor

Mommy Loves: listening to heavy baby breathing in her ear

Artist, Wendy Chidester

I first discovered this unique artist at a benefit downtown last Autumn. My friend Merrilee invited me to attend with her in lieu of her out-of-town-hubby and it was a wonderful opportunity to see so many talented local artists all in one location. The event even included all the Les Madeleines treats you could shove onto your little dessert plate; unless of course you have no problem abandoning social graces at moments like this and instead decide to carry around two plates with you all evening. I don't know anyone who would do that...(wink wink)

You can view Wendy's available works here.

I Like this Guy

...he's my kind of eater. Or rather, the eater I'd like to become, especially if I lived in the Bay Area where fresh food is plentiful, beautiful and tasty...oh how I miss the Ferry Building and the wonderful Farmers Market it hosts each week.

If you want to get a taste (sorry I couldn't resist!) of what he's all about, click here to read Michael Pollan's interview on NPR. After reading more about him, I totally sold on a few of his mantras. Here is a sampling: (again, I couldn't resist another pun)

* Buy local over organic, if you have to choose; often the local farms are practically organic anyway but just aren't "certified" by the USDA. You can find out these things quite easily with a phone call.

* Cut out processed foods (anything including more than 5 ingredients)

* Stress quality of food over quantity.

Click here to read more about his new book, In Defense of Food. I'm ready for the Farmer's Market to begin!

Easy Home Decor Idea

Perhaps I've mentioned this in the past so forgive me if I'm redundant...The other day as I admired the pretty shape of winter clementines on the kitchen table, I was reminded of this tip: use everyday fruit to add color and texture to your living space. It's so inexpensive and makes such an impact. Fruits like grapefruit, oranges, mangos, limes and lemons seem to make the most impact colorwise. But if you want your fruit bowl to double as a snack oasis as well, choose easy-to-peel clementines for the kiddies.

Itty Bitty House

When Paris starred in "The Simple Life", she had NO idea what simple was. This is simple. It kind of reminds me of the little house grandpa lived in on the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, only bigger if you can imagine :)

While not practical for our family of five, a lovely idea for a guest home or a weekend retreat...in your backyard. Since it's on wheels, why not hitch it to the back of the minivan and take it camping? I guess it could work for our family, if a few people slept outside in a tent...ummm, that would be you honey! The DWR Airstream is retro but this is quaint. Hmmm...

If I were a poet, a writer, a park ranger or an environmentalist watchdog, I'd have one of these built, driven to a beautiful grove of trees and parked. What a simple, unmaterialistic way to live. I can imagine great satisfaction coming from such a life.

Click here to view more pictures of the itty bitty house.

How to Host a Raclette Party

A fun way to dig in and savor this cold winter weather is to host a raclette party. Raclette is a type of cheese made in France and Switzerland for the sole purpose of being heated and then scraped onto little boiled potatoes. When the husband served a mission for our church, he became exposed to this goodness and we continue the tradition in our family (and with friends) today. I love placing the raclette machine in the middle of the table with our guests sitting around talking and eating....more talking and eating. It's a very social meal, much like fondue.

You will need to first invest in a raclette machine which can be purchased here or at your local gourmet kitchen store (we found ours in San Francisco).

The general rule of thumb for cheese is to purchase 1/3 lb. raclette per person. Locally, you can find raclette at Harmons or Liberty Heights Fresh. I believe both places offer both French raclette (more earthy) and Swiss raclette (more refined). Slice up the cheese rather thin and then place in the little trays under the heated machine until bubbly. Scrape onto boiled potatotes and enjoy. If you are up for trying something new, and easy, give this raclette party menu a try:

* Harmons homemade italian sweet sausage with fennel (grill on top of the raclette machine)
* good olives and fresh cornichons (the latter being a traditional accompaniment) from Liberty Heights Fresh
* boiled Yukon gold potatoes in the smallest size available (sprinkle a little nutmeg or paprika on top for an extra zing)
* grilled zucchini (again, grill on top)
* a crusty French loaf or baguette

Bon Appetit! Oh, and email me if you have further questions~

Growing Paperwhites

Just a few more weeks left to take advantage of the paperwhite growing season (bulbs should be started between Oct & Jan supposedly) so take advantage of the post-holiday sales on paperwhite bulbs and stock up on a few. I think it would be a fun idea to buy some inexpensive vases or containers, (maybe at Tai Pan Trading?) fill with river rocks , (IKEA?) and then place about 3 bulbs in each container. If you started them in the next few weeks, you could give them to friends and family for Valentines Day. Don't forget to attach a big red bow!

Click here for a "how-to-grow-paperwhites" tutorial.

Interested in shopping online for bulbs? Click here for a good deal. If anyone has seen them cheaper elsewhere, please share!

Tip: Paperwhites tend to grow very tall and often flop to one side. To avoid this phenomenon root the bulbs in gravel (I think small, polished rocks would suffice) with a solution of 1 part rubbing alcohol and 10 parts water. They will (in theory) stop growing at about two-thirds their usual height.

per Martha Stewart's Good Things

the Look for Less

I saw these beautiful lattice jars (perfect accessory for the modern Moroccan theme circulating the design realm) in Domino first, and then in Williams Sonoma Home next for much more.

If you love them, don't pay full price. Use the coupon code "domino" at checkout for an additional 20% off. It just goes to show that if you find an accessory that you love, but is overpriced, you can almost always find the same thing (or something very similar) for a lower price.

Click here for budget version. Click here for pricier version. Do you see a difference?

If you're local, I noticed an uber-inexpensive version in the Centerville Target's Global Bazaar section.

To See: The Giant Buddhas

The husband picked up a great flick for me via Netflix...The Giant Buddhas. He thought I would enjoy it and he was right.

I loved this film because it visually exposed me to a part of the world I will likely never see in my lifetime. Also, it reminded me of the extreme danger religious fanaticism imposes on others. The narrator, on the other hand, is a bit monotone for my taste; but if you can get past this detail, it's a lovely film. Click here to view more.

P.S. Netflix is the bomb.

Donna Hay

Santa brought me the latest edition of Donna Hay's magazine and I am officially hooked. The photography is exquisite, the styling perfect, and the recipes are all tantalizing. It's a little pricey ($10) but worth every penny. Pick one up at Barnes & Noble and you'll see what I'm talkin' about here ladies. It's truly a work of art and also a special treat..."special made simple" as the magazine so accurately attests.

Click here if you're interested in viewing her website loaded with eye candy.

New Years Resolutions Reworked

I've thought a lot about different things these last few days--things I haven't thought about for awhile. Why? Perhaps because I burned my face pretty badly this week and I look funny; and that while at the hospital I saw a precious little child with third degree burns on half of her sweet head. It caused me to ponder what is really important in life and what is merely a distraction.

Therefore, I've decided to rework a few of my New Year's Resolutions I posted here a week or so ago.

1. Forget the laundry.

2. Take each of my older (3 and up) on a monthly "date".

3. Become better at just sitting down and playing along with my kids. My Little Pony here I come.

4. Go on a fabulous vacation alone with the husband...no kids...no babies...you know what I'm talkin' about. I am dreaming here, here or here.

____ for President

Our friends told us about this site that helps you choose the presidential candidate that best represents your beliefs. You can take the quiz here.

Amanda also mentioned this quiz over at USA Today. Click here if you would like to take this one as well.

Celebrating Chinese New Year

Make note...Chinese New Year is February 7th.

One of the first times the husband and I spent time together was at a Chinese restaurant celebrating Chinese New Year...or whatever. However, I use the phrase "spent time together" very loosely here. The husband spent the dinner mostly talking to another girl he was dating at the time and the husband's roommate spent the night flirting with me. A little topsy turvey but it ended out right in the end :)

Also, when we lived in San Francisco I threw a Chinese New Year party. How could I not with Chinatown a few blocks away? Around the apartment we placed a few bowls of fortune cookies purchased directly from the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie company, also in Chinatown. When I arrived at the factory a woman asked me if I wanted the "sexy fortune cookie" or the "regular fortune cookie". I opted for "regular" but I wonder, should I have purchased the "sexy" ones? That might've put an interesting twist on our dinner party :)

All in all I have fond memories of Chinese New Year.

Wouldn't it be fun to host your own party and mail out invitations like these with these stamps?

And decorate with these lanterns and these garlands?

And prepare this menu?

And give these out as party favors?

Oh yes it would.

For an all out tutorial as to how to prepare a simple party, click here.

So Cupcake GIVEAWAY Winner

The "So Cupcake Giveaway" randomly chosen winner is:

angbrimwil who said..."I love cupcakes. Always looking for the next favorite".

Congratulations!

Please email me (see right column) with your mailing address so we can get your cupcakes to you pronto!

So Cupcake GIVEAWAY Reminder

Today is the LAST day to sign up for the "So Cupcake Giveaway". Your tummy will thank you.

For those of us who don't win, Natalie will be opening up her very own cupcake shop in about a month. I personally cannot wait!

Click here if you want to win one dozen Red Velvet Cupcakes with Burgundy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.

Pay Less for Shoes

Recently I stopped by Payless to buy my little guy some shoes. He's growing faster than a beanstalk these days so we are going through shoes like fruit leathers around here. I decided to take a quick 60-second peek at the Women's section given their recent turn to designer looks in the past few years (they are following in Target's footsteps and hiring designers to do special budget lines). I found a few keepers, all under $20, and all surprisingly comfortable. Twenty bucks!!!?? It's downright amazing shoes can cost so little.

Click here to view all Spring new arrivals. I'm curious, can you tell which pair I chose?


You know, now that I think about it, why choose at at that price? Why not pick up a few? :)

Hostess Gift Ideas on the Go

Thoughtful hostess gifts are the best kind to give, we all know that to be true. However, not all thoughtful hostess gifts require considerable advance planning. Here are a few ideas that are easy to put together the day of:

1. Flowers: Head to the grocery store (you're already there anyway most days!) and buy three or four small bunches of flowers or one large bunch (Costco has great flowers most days). Take the flowers home and arrange them nicely in wrapping paper you have on hand. Kraft brown paper works well here or anything from the Paper Source. Tie with a simple ribbon and gift tag.

Here is a picture of a bunch of flowers I arranged for my friend Susan before a dinner recently.

tag from every jot and tittle
2. Box of Chocolates: Use the opportunity as an excuse to visit your favorite local bakery or chocolate shop. Buy a box of your favorite chocolates or treats. Many bakeries and chocolate shops offer their own gift wrap, for free. Point out that your purchase is a gift and ask if they can gift wrap for you.

3. Exotic Fruit: Real Simple magazine also mentions pineapples (tied with a bright ribbon) as a great last-minute hostess gift. I would have to agree.

4. Plant: Talk about a gift that keeps on giving. Luckily for Salt Lakers, Cactus & Tropicals is nearby to provide a beautiful plant, care instructions and beautiful wrapping to go along with it--for two dollars extra. I think I'll be heading there today to buy a little hostess giftie myself.

Clearing Clutter

Let's talk about this again...it's so much fun AND it's a new year! We have 348 days left to become clutter-free...if that's our prerogative anyway. I think it's a credible mantra for a variety of reasons:

1. Less to Clean
2. Decreases Stress
3. Creates Appearance of "Clean"
4. Encourages Simplicity (we don't need as much as we think we do)

I found a blog that might interest those interested in decluttering...click here to read.


My friend Carey was heading to the D.I. and luckily she stopped here first so I could grab a wonderful book called the One Minute Organizer. Right up my alley--it's organization for the busy person. Nothing is overwhelming and you can do it bit by bit as you have/make time. Here are a few tips from Ms. Smallin regarding clearing clutter:

* Start with the easy stuff--things that don't require any decision making on your part. Grab a trash bag (the darker the better if the hubby is around!) and start tossing in things that are clearly garbage: food wrappers, expired coupons and flyers, stretched-out socks, stained clothing, rusted kitchen utensils, broken items that have since been replaced. Keep going until that trash bag is full.

* When uncluttering a shelf, drawer, cupboard, or closet, take everything out. Then put back only those things you love and use.

I'm off to take a few trash bags around my house myself; heaven knows I have several spaces still in dire need of some serious de-cluttering (think closets, basement, drawers, ugh!). In fact, I may need an entire box of trash bags for the basement, which is looking more like a Spring project than a January one these days.

If you are interested in perusing this book cover to cover, click here for more info. It's inexpensive and chocked full of great ideas. Think baby steps (as in What About Bob).

Shall we do this again soon?

Giggles, Giggles and More Giggles

E. requested a "snowflake party" this year...a perfect scenario for a wintry January and after-Christmas clearance sales! We hit the party store for the basic party ware (balloons, hanging snowflakes, plates, cups, doilies, etc.) and added a few special things from Martha Stewart Crafts to make it more unique.

For games we played "pin-the-snowflake-on-the-girls'-nose" I know, I know...but we were desperate! Figuring out something to pin a snowflake on was actually fairly challenging--obviously :) At L.'s Monkey party the kids enjoyed "pin-the-tail-on-the-monkey" so much that I could not resist doing it again. The giggles were contagious! I put the husband in charge of the artwork for this one. Until I start my watercolor class in a few weeks, I am not confident in my artistic abilities in any shape or form.

The kids also played a snowflake matching game--we cut out identical snowflakes and numbered them before placing them randomly throughout the main level. It was a little more difficult than I anticipated because of the amount of concentration it required but it did calm them down a little before the sugar high I sent them all on a few minutes later (sorry parents!). Lucky for me I found a great post about another Snowflake Party on this blog and decided to make the little marshmallow snowmen as the craft. Thanks Amanda!

For treats I sugared them up on Frosted Vanilla Cupcakes and iced sugar cookies and then sent them on their merry way all ready for lunch (or not!). It was a nice little group and far less overwhelming than the bigger parties we hosted for her in the past. E. enjoyed herself and that's all that matters to me!

BR Monogram Collection

Love the new Banana Republic Monogram collection. My only question, does it go on sale eventually like the rest of BR? Hope so.

Isn't this coat so pretty and ultra-feminine? Audrey would've worn it...

P.S. Email me if you are interested in a 20% off coupon to Banana Republic through January 22.

Birdie Bedding

I'm not usually a fan of PBK bedding but this little birdie is adorable for a little girl's room. A perfect accent would be this rick rack pillow in apple green or this scalloped number in of course, green. Accessorize with some framed letterpress cards with a coordinating motif and you'd have yourself a pretty little room.

Last Day to Sign Up!

Ready to get organized? Me too!

Today is the last day to sign up for the Let's Get Organized Swap!

Swap partners "assignments" will be sent out between Thursday and Friday of this week. This is going to be so fun! Personally, I can't wait to get my package all together.

Click here for details.

Loeffler Randall for Target

Remember this beautiful (and unfortunately very expensive) coat by Loeffler Randall I blogged about a few months ago?

Good News: Loeffler Randall is doing a line for Target and it's in store right now!

Bad News: the line only includes accessories and shoes...not clothing.

We can enjoy the line on the Target website or in stores through March 23.

Terrariums

I love this terrarium I bought on sale at Pottery Barn last year. Even though they don't carry them in the store anymore, you could use any glass vessel with an opening on top. Per Carey's request I did not show dirt this time :)

How to do it:

1. Chose three small plants (or however many fit nicely in your glass vessel) that enjoy a little humidity and in this case low light (my dining room isn't the brightest room in the house).

2. Placed the three plants close together inside the terrarium leaving a one inch space between the dirt and the exterior.

3. Carefully placed polished pebbles around the edge, filling in all available space.

It's so easy to do. The most difficult part of this project is finding the perfect glass container. But once you have that down, you can reuse the terrarium season after season and do something different each time.

If you want to make a terrarium for your kids' rooms, click here to read this fabulous post over at Cookie Mag's website. When my kids are a little older this will be a fun project. I can't imagine what L. would do with a little dirt and a considerable amount of rocks in his room. A scary thought indeed.

Note: Even though the website and the current catalogs do not offer this for sale, it does not mean they don't have a couple on hand at the warehouse. Call the catalog phone number and ask them if they have any "glass terrariums" left. Regular price was $66 approximately and I purchased it on sale for $34.99. Hope that helps! You might be able to find it even cheaper...who knows?!

How to Seed a Pomegranate

Pomegranates used to intimidating to me...well, as intimidating as a piece of fruit can be I suppose. At the grocery store I'd notice pomegranates, admire their color and shape and continue on my merry way to the safe fruits like oranges, apples and bananas. While the latter mentioned fruits do have their merit, it's fun to mix things up a little in the produce category. Mixing pomegranate seeds into a fruit salad adds color as well as the "unique factor"; pomegranate juice is loaded with antioxidants; and pomegranate seeds carmelized over a roast are mighty tasty too.

A trusty neighbor of mine showed me how to seed a pomegranate stain free (I'm always staining my clothes, hands, etc. when I try to wing it) and in less than two minutes flat nonetheless. I found this incredibly helpful as it reduced laundry (I'm all about that!), took almost no time at all, and kept me from ridiculously spooning out the seeds myself with a grapefruit spoon. What was I thinking? I guess it goes to show it's all about being "in the know" and clearly I wasn't!


Going clockwise from top left:

1. cut pomegrante in fourths
2. place sieve over kitchen sink, turn on cold water (the cold water makes the process stain-free)
3. over the sieve and under the water, take one fourth and break apart with your hands, pushing out the seeds with your thumbs (allow the chunks of pale yellow pilth to fall along with the seeds)
4. repeat process with remaining chunks
5. pick up pilth and discard until only seeds remain
6. voila!

Now head to the store and pick up a pomegranate :)

So Cupcake GIVEAWAY

Who doesn't love a cupcake? Especially a cupcake made from high quality ingredients like real butter, cocoa and Madagascar vanilla...

That's what I thought!

So Cupcake is the latest bakery in Salt Lake to join the cupcake craze, and this girl is going all out with her own storefront come February! YUM! Inspired by her sweet little daughter, founder Natalie Jensen decided to create something to evoke a moment of bliss for all of us.

So Cupcake will be opening its doors in Holladay in February
(exact date is TBD) at 3939 S. Highland Drive. This treat spot will be opened Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. I have an inkling this is about to become my favorite joint for an afternoon sugar fix. (Les Madeleines closes at 3 p.m. now so I've been on the hunt!)

Thanks to her generosity the lucky winner of this giveaway receives one dozen Hanky Panky RED VELVET cupcakes with Burgundy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (a $24.50 value) shipped to their doorstep (unless of course you're local, in which case they will be delivered). I've personally sample the red velvet cupcake and it is truly delectable. The hearty size translates into bang for your buck...always a nice bonus.

Giveaway Guidelines:

- You have 5 days to enter this giveaway (closes Friday, January 18th).
- Make a comment on THIS POST to enter.
- All anonymous comments will be ignored.
- One entry per person please.
- The winner, randomly picked of course, will be announced Monday, January 21st.

One more thing about So Cupcake to consider...a red velvet cupcake or two, or three, would be a great Valentine's gift for friends so check out the website to place an order ahead of time.


P.S. Forget it, this is so going up on Sunday night...I can't wait until Monday morning!

A Few Things to Think About

1. Something yummy is coming your way on Monday. Stay tuned!

2. Only five days left to sign up for the "Let's Get Organized Swap". Several people emailed wanting to be a part of it, but left out all the necessary information requested in the post. If that applies to you, please email me your contact info so I can make you officially a part of this fun swap! Thanks~

3. Take a few seconds and smile (see left). Oh to be a little child. Sigh....

A Little Temptation...

Our local Anthropologie is brimming with sale items. In fact, I've never seen a sale section so big over there. There are many deals to be had to be sure.

Remember this sweater I posted about awhile back? Hallelujah it was on sale! These fantastic dresses are all on super sale as well. Stock up before they are gone gone gone! I really like this polka-dot number. It shouts "Spring" to me.

Bright Bedding

Love this two-tone bordered bedding--still simple but with even more color. Boy I wish I still worked for their corporate office so I could either snatch up a product sample at "Sample Sale" or just use my 40% discount. I miss those days...how spoiled I was at work!

Click here to view details. The bedding is offered in 4 colors and the combinations are all fantastic, although the brown combo I could do without.

Menu for the Week

Time flies. Is it really time to do this all over again? I would venture to say "yes" considering our last few nights' meals consisted of eggs and bacon and cheap takeout.

Mostly new recipes this week...I'm feeling adventurous. Please note, I don't actually think any of you care about what we eat around here. I only post menus to offer new recipes for you to try--if that's your thing :) I hear lots of friends talk about "needing new recipes". So here it goes...once again!

Risotto with Mushrooms, Peas, Sausage; crusty bread and salad with vinaigrette (herb variation)

Grilled Ribeye Steaks, Corn on the Cob, steamed Broccoli

Vegetable Stir Fry over Brown Rice (use store-bought spice mix)

Moroccan Chicken Couscous

Herb crusted Salmon with Roasted Lemons; Red Potatoes & sauteed Haricots Verts (skinny French green beans--look for them at Costco)

Chicken Tacos with Avocados, Cheese, Salsa, Sour Cream (place chicken breasts in slow cooker with a cup or so of salsa for 7 hours on low; then shred and serve in shells or tortillas)

Dessert: Cranberry Upside Down Cake with homemade Whipped Cream