Kitchen of the Month

Loving the boldness of this streamlined kitchen. Placing a mirror in the kitchen isn't something I would think of myself but I rather like it...and what better way to enhance a smaller space? All that white, stainless steel, and warm wood is appealing to me too. So many details to love in this one...

from last month's House Beautiful

Playroom Inspiration

My sister-in-law Tiffany created a sweet little play space for her children. She took some basic furniture pieces, added her personal touch and really made this space her own. The addition of bright colors, handmade toys, and trinkets from Italy make it enviable indeed.

While everyone likes to store toys differently, I think her method is both practical and visually appealing. Smaller toys are stored in stackable suitcases, while larger ones are kept in colorful baskets. Games and puzzles are simply stacked on top of each other according to size. Though not pictured, she also keeps two larger bins (with lids attached) in the corner to store "dress-ups". It truly is a wonderful playroom.

What are some of your methods when it comes to toy organization?

Martha Stewart Kids & Baby

In case you missed the rise and fall of Martha Stewart Baby & Martha Stewart Kids, you can procure your very own copy on Ebay, which I highly recommend by the way. These issues are jam-packed with amazing ideas about everything kid-related. I am continually inspired by the images adorning both magazines and am grateful to have a few issues on hand. The classic styling makes it a timeless resource, especially when it comes to planning parties, birth announcements & crafts.

You can find the MS Kids issues here and the MS Baby issues here. If you aren't able to grab one this time, you can register a search with Ebay so they can notify you when one becomes available again. It's pretty sweet.

Jordan Ferney interview

Oh Happy Day is one of my absolute favorite blogs. Like top 5. And since she is a favorite read, I thought it would be fun to ask Jordan to share a few things about herself that we may not already know. You know, to satiate our growing curiosity as to who this amazing person is and how she pulls everything off so stylishly! Read & enjoy:

1. You and Paul seem like a great couple. How did you and your red-headed-artist-of-a-husband meet?

We met through a mutual friend at a party. I liked him immediately. We
dated for a few years and he followed me to San Francisco where we got
engaged and married.

2. So many of us love to visit San Francisco. What are your top-10 must-visits in the city?

For me San Francisco is about experiencing different things. Some of
my favorite experiences are:

* Miette to eat a vanilla macaroon
* La Boulange on Pine and Fillmore (it must be this location and it must
be first thing in the morning.)
* Tail of the Yak (this is in Berkeley but it is still my favorite store)
* Arch to buy art supplies and look at their gift section, they have
such a good buyer.
* Bell'occhio to look at all their beautiful things.
* Alameda Flea Market -where heaven and earth meet. Go early.
* Ferry Building- To buy a loaf of Epi, some soft cheese, a nice pear,
and some Mexican hot chocolate from Mijita, and I always stop into
Boulettes Larder to see their jaw dropping flowers.
* Golden Gate Park to rent a rowboat on Stow Lake.
* A walk at Crissy Field and get hot chocolate at the warming hut.
* Ribbonrie-to look at all the beautiful ribbons.

I could go on. I'm trying to put together a San Francisco guide in the
next few months, it will have all of my faves.

3. If you could jump on a plane this weekend, where would you go?

New place: I've heard Croatia and New Zealand are nice.
Old favorite: I want to go back to Brazil really bad. I'm trying to make that happen
this year.

4. Scenario: Dinner party for 12...buffet style...it's a bit chilly outside...what do you serve?

I like little things these days. I'd do lots of tapas or hors
d'oeuvres. I'm more into the atmosphere than the food. Don't get me
wrong, the food has to be good but I'd rather have a spectacular
concept than spectacular food. In my dream world I live next door to
someone who cares more about the food than presentation and we would
throw amazing parties together.

5. What are some simple ways that non-event planners can do to dress up a living space or table for a party?

Two things that can transform a space fast 1. Make everything
monochromatic or else do small variation on color (everything
different versions of green.) and 2. Hang things from the ceiling:
lanterns streamers, banners, balloons.

6. Latest read?

I'm still trying to finish What is the What by Dave Eggers.



































7. What has been your favorite stage in Moses' life so far? What are you looking forward to for him? Dreading?

I love being a part of him learning new things. It is by far the most
fulfilling thing I've ever done. Hmmm? Is there something to dread?
The only thing I dread is being pregnant again. Sick and fat is not a
good combination for me.

8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years both family-wise and personally? What do you hope to accomplish?

Good question--I have no idea. I like to do different projects but I'm
not a really driven person. I do one thing until it isn't interesting
to me anymore and then I move on to something new and shiny. I have
two dreams, one is both Paul and I working freelance with a small 2
bedroom flat in the city and being able to summer in a different
location every year. The second one involves me renovating a unique
space like a barn or a warehouse and then living in it.

9. Favorite recipe this month?

I make this tomato soup once a week. I'm not exaggerating. I love it and I love having something to feed impromptu guests.

10. When choosing how to spend your time, what things do you consider?

I don't think about it too much. I make sure me and my family's basic
needs are met and then I work on whatever project needs to get done.



































11. What do you admire most in a person?

Good heart.

12. What new blog have you discovered recently that you find yourself enjoying?

There are lots but I'm liking this French one a lot.

13. Is there ever a day you regret blogging? How has it changed your life ?

No, I don't regret it. Blogging has brought so many good things to my
life. The friends and connections I've made are so amazing. I
sometimes wonder who I would be friends with if I didn't know all
these people through blogging. The only things I don't like about
blogging are: occasionally I feel pressure to post when I'm not
inspired--and once in a while people write insensitive comments.
Depending on the context it sometimes hurts my feelings. I don't think
it has changed my life too much; one difference is when I do something
fun or interesting I have to stop in the middle to make sure I get
some good pictures for the blog.

Welcome Halsea

I have a lovely new sponsor I want to share with you today...Halsea. This California-based label brings those wonderful "I-feel-like-I'm-at-the-beach" moments into our everyday lives with its beautiful luggage, totes, cosmetic bags, clutches, etc. My first look at Halsea's website made me immediately want to plan a trip to Cape Cod or Newport Beach or any beach really...as long as I can carry one of those cute, make-me-happy-in-an-instant weekend bags :) I think anything from Halsea would make the perfect Mother's Day gift for you, your Mom, your sister, etc.

Check out the beautiful offerings here (my favorite is the China Cove collection). If only we could all sit back and drink pina coladas together while perusing all these fun bags...

Bye Bye Domino

'Tis a sad day for us all...hip style magazine Domino is shutting down this Spring according to this article (thank you Amy Hackworth for passing this along). I glean so much inspiration from its pages...I can't imagine being without! While I do love other "shelter" magazines, no one does it like Domino. I'm genuinely sad about this...first Blueprint, then Domino...and the rumor has it, Cottage Living too.

It looks like the March 2009 will be the last issue so savor it fully.

Artisan Chocolates

I would love take a class on making artisan chocolates. What a fun skill to have! Back in the day my Mom used to always make little boxes of chocolates for neighbors and friends on Valentine's Day...it would be fun to continue the tradition. Okay, so I have two weeks to learn how to make these? Hmmm....

Until I am able to break away to an urban center for such a class, it might be best to pick up a book like this. If I could even remotely recreate Recchiuti's Tarragon Grapefruit Dark Chocolate, I'd be in heaven.

Layered Looks

A friend and I hit J.Crew Saturday night for a much-needed GNO ("girls night out" if you missed the memo). We made the ideal shopping duo because she had birthday money to spend and I didn't :) That made me consultant and I loved every minute. I enjoyed helping her put together outfits and give feedback (when requested) on the ensembles. She loves the layered looks featured in the new Spring catalogue so we took both sale items and regularly priced items and created one-of-a-kind looks.

Just so you know, there are some great deals to be had in-store. You'll even find some new Spring items already marked down and when you receive an additional 30% off (all in-store sale qualifies for this discount), it's like shopping at Old Navy or Gap. I even broke down and bought my first piece of J.Crew jewelry...marked down to a mere $7 from it's original $55. And I think there is one left on a mannequin...:)

Pop Shops

Pop Shops, a new retail pop-up in Campo's old space, is a stop you'll want to take if you love cool furniture, accessories, and art all under the same roof. I stopped by the other day to check things out and was thrilled with the new look. They showcase both contemporary art {see above} as well as more traditional works by both Gary & John Collins {father and son}. There is certainly something for everyone to see. They even have a few pieces leftover from the lovely Tailored.

Make sure you stop by soon...they'll only be there until May.

Coconut Cupcakes

While I am a huge Ina Garten fan, I decided to give another version of "coconut cupcakes" a try. You know, just to do a little "compare & contrast". I decided to go with this version from the Washington Post's "Food Wars". They raved about it so it seemed like a safe bet.

After tasting this new recipe, I found them both to be delicious but very different from each other. Who knew there could be so much variation between coconut cupcake recipes? Ina's (the Barefoot Contessa) cupcakes have an "almond" undertone, while these have a "nutmeg" undertone.

I modified the frosting recipe because I always have extra frosting that goes unused. Here are the measurements I used for the frosting:

8 oz. cream cheese
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 teaspoons coconut milk (shake the can first)
dash freshly grated nutmeg (whole nutmeg are the least expensive at World Market)
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

Again, you can find the Washington Post cupcake recipe here...and the Barefoot Contessa recipe here.

Adding Turqouise to the Mix

Recently, a Dutch blog--the style files--posted about some of the many, lovely turquoise accents prevalent right now. I'll admit, it's not a color I'd enjoy using in large bursts, but it just might be the perfect accent. I can't imagine a better color to brighten up these gray (although occasionally appreciated) winter months ahead.

I'm on the lookout now...

images via the style files via Zara Home (which I am hitting for the first time in April--yeah!)

Tell Me 'Bout It

There was a time when I was childless and didn't have a remotely accurate understanding of what mothers "did all day":) I think this column sums it up nicely, with a bit of humor in the mix.

Thanks Cher for the referral...I chuckled when I read this and I needed a good laugh today :)

Cher's Living Room Update

My sister Cher has done an amazing job renovating and decorating her "Doris Day House" just outside Seattle's city limits. Every time we visit the Husband drools over her latest and greatest project (almost all of which she completes herself) and the overall look of her home. It really is fun to see what she's up to...and it's always something! This month it's updating her living room.

To do it all on a budget, she visits her local thrift store regularly, shops on Craigslist & IKEA, and then occasionally purchases a new piece at a furniture store if it's on super sale. Her mother-in-law calls her a "recessionista" because of her resourceful ways of procuring beautiful things.

Is anyone else loving that coffee table besides me? I'd love to save up for that pretty li'l thang. I'm sure I've got a few things around here to sell...:)

P.S. Cher, I love the new plant. It's just what your space needed.

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER

An old friend shared this wonderful recipe with me a few years ago and I've never been tempted to try another...it's such a great recipe to have on hand. Make sure you use a high-quality semi-sweet chocolate chip like Ghirardelli. You won't achieve the same results with Nestle or Hersheys sadly.

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs (room temp if possible)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (feel free to throw in the whole bag if you like them super chocolate-y)

Cream butter, brown sugar and white sugar together in a mixer. Then add the eggs, one at a time. Beat until creamy. Add the vanilla.

In another bowl mix the dry ingredients together before slowly adding them to the creamed mixture. When combined, stop the mixer and add the semi-sweet chips. Mix up and then drop by the teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Mold them into a ball as best as you can with the spoon for a more shaped cookie.

Bake on 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

Olive Juice Warehouse Sale

On a whim I popped onto my favorite site for children's clothes to check and see if they jumped on the "amazing-sale-bandwagon". Sure enough, they didn't want to be left behind! You'll find their normally high-priced clothing available for Gap/Old Navy prices now until Wednesday. I particularly am a fan of their blouses & dresses...so cute and so French looking, but cheaper (when on sale) than anything similar in France.

Spice Drawer Overhaul

I think everyone has a few spots in the house that really suffer...my home is no exception. Perhaps the #1 junk spot in my home {was} my spice drawer. Once, some guests over for dinner even let out a gasp when I opened the drawer while finishing up something last minute for dinner. It was that bad :) I smiled when I heard this because I recognized how almost-comical it was to have a drawer that messy. To date, I've never seen anyone else's spice drawer as disorganized as mine was. Truly. In fact, I was going to show you a picture of the "before", but decided against sharing it because I really only like to show pretty pictures on my blog and folks...this was not pretty. If you want a visual, simply imagine a drawer with various shaped bottles thrown in it every which way with no rhyme or reason...catch my drift? Oh, and I had to shove bottles all over each other just to get the drawer to close...

For the makeover: I used the small circle labels from Stuck, and bought the racks and jars at the Container Store. I can't tell you how great it is to open this once-problematic place in my home.

Maybe we'll have that couple over again and leave our spice drawer open for a look-see :)

J.Crew Super Sale

Wow, I almost feel like I'm at the warehouse sale again with these prices! $20 for this gorgeous cardigan? I can't get over it. What a sale indeed.

Free Shipping on orders of $150 plus with code "ICING" at checkout.

Worst Foods in America

Bitten, a blog in the New York Time's Dining & Wine section, shares with readers the 20 Worst Foods in America. Aren't you just a little curious? I was.

All I can say {after reading the list] is I am grateful I've boycotted Chili's for about 8 years now. However, I admit I was surprised that Macaroni Grill menu items made it on this list several times. I haven't eaten there for almost a decade, but from what I remember, it was pretty yummy for a chain restaurant. Either I am remembering incorrectly or they've gone downhill since...

In any case I think it's always better to support local restaurants versus chains. You end up with better, healthier food in the end. Awhile back I posted about my favorite restaurants here in Salt Lake City...if you're looking for a new date night option check these out.

Daily Organization

I am only a couple of weeks away from needing a new MomME planner so I recently placed an order (I don't want to see what life is like around here without it!). It's the one thing I use daily to keep me organized and I enjoy it for a couple of reasons. First, I love how little space it takes up and how it nicely it fits on my little countertop; second, I love that it lasts me over a year so I only have to think about it once every 13 months or so (who needs one more thing to remember?!) A happy discovery indeed.

Jenny, the talented creator and entrepreneur behind LobotoME products, shares how shes uses her MomME planner here. Granted, everyone keeps themselves organized in different ways, but it's nice to see it "in action". Sometimes when I go shopping I simply cut out the little shopping list so I don't have to re-write it. And, I use the upper left columns to write down ideas for blog posts. So you see, it's a great calendar no matter how you use it!

You can pick them up at your local Container Store or online here.

Tiffin Lunch Box

I picked up this well-designed two-tier Tiffin lunchbox at World Market the other day for my oldest daughter...oh the excitment in finally having a lunchbox! She loves the two compartments (she is a serious food separator) and the little stickers I placed on the outside to make it more "girly". A little pink goes a long way...And, as an added bonus, Mommy digs it too.

If you don't live near a World Market, you can buy the Tiffins here. As a side note, I've been looking around for sometime and this little lunch box is the least expensive to date...a mere $8!

Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Arugula & Prosciutto

One afternoon while shopping at Whole Foods I picked up this magazine for the first time. I wondered how I'd never heard of it until that day...the photography was gorgeous and the recipes looked amazing. The cover itself featured a glazed chocolate cake with pomegranate seeds as a garnish. Gorgeous.

Anyway, I've been experimenting with a few recipes and found one that I absolutely love. My kids loved it, we loved it, it wasn't laborious and it was healthy...I can't imagine a better scenario for a weeknight meal. Conveniently enough I found packages of arugula and prosciutto in the exact measurements called for in this recipe. Very smooth. Also, don't let the cauliflower throw you off, it's delicious. My kids loved it roasted and honestly I couldn't get enough either. I followed the recipe almost exactly, but did change a couple of things....1) I added more pasta (16 oz instead of 12)...and 2) I added more Parmigiano-Reggiano. I couldn't resist. I probably put in about a cup or so...at least :)

These are a Few...

...of my favorite things...(everytime I write that phrase I want to break out the Sound of Music...am I alone in this?)

Well, if you are interested in reading about a few of my favorite things, you can do so here over at doobleh-vay. Please note that I didn't mention my obvious favorites--the Husband & my 3 kiddos. Oh, and even if you don't care about my favorite things (I won't be offended...promise) you should still check out doobleh-vay anyway. She's a clever Mom with a totally gorgeous Etsy shop called Little Alouette. Her thank you note idea on Cookie recently still runs through my mind...and perhaps one of these days I'll actually do it!

Oh, and Justin took that picture.

P.S. on the Matryoshka Party

If you are local, and seriously interested in hosting your own Matryoshka Doll party, let me know. I'd be happy to pass along the poster board doll to you! I am having a difficult time throwing her away...

Email me if you're interested and promise to use it :)

Slow Cooker Recipes

This is one of those weeks I want to utilize my not-used-enough slow cooker :) So far I only have a couple of recipes I really like to make using my slow cooker (you can find them here). I've realized I'm not a fan of dried soup mixes & canned soups, which eliminates most of the recipes out there unfortunately! What's a mother to do?

Since we have about three more chilly months ahead, I'm on the hunt {again} for some slow cooker meals incorporating fresh and healthy ingredients. This grouping might be a great place to find a few new recipes to "beef up" my repertoire :)

Check 'em out here.

Do you have a favorite slow cooker recipe that calls for fresh ingredients? Please share if you do!

Organizing Tip #21

Keep a bin of unisex, mated socks in the mudroom.

(or near the door from which you most often exit).

Finding socks & putting on one's socks (if they could be found) became a source of conflict around here in the morning. You may think I'm overstating, but really, it was getting out of hand. It felt as if I heard at least one of the following statements every single day:

"Mom, I can't find any socks!" (okay so maybe this is my fault...I tend to wait awhile to fold laundry)

"Mom, do I haaaave to go upstairs and get my socks?" (it is 10 degrees outside..."yes" is the answer.)

"Mom, these are giiirls socks." (oops...did I put lacy socks in my son's closet?!)

We wasted a lot of time and seriously, I don't want to contend with my kids over mere socks! So I came up with a two-fold plan.

First, since my two oldest (now 7 and 4) are within a few shoe sizes of each other, I bought two large bags of plain white socks in a size that fits both kids. I like the white socks at Old Navy because they are well-priced, totally unisex, are of surprisingly decent quality, and have skids on the bottom to prevent unnecessary slips on the hardwood floors.

Second, after folding laundry, I immediately place a bunch of mated socks in a galvanized metal bin inside my mudroom. I would even say I place most of their socks in this bin. Now, when I am heading out the door I always have socks on hand, within reach, for my little people. We don't argue anymore (well, not about socks anyway), no one has to run upstairs when we are already running late, and no one has to worry about donning socks that are too girly :)

To read more easy organizing tips...click here.

Crossing to Safety

This is the perfect time of year to revisit one of my all-time favorite books...Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. It is the only book I've read multiple times, in fact. So, if you're looking for a good read (also a great way to cure the January doldrums!), consider giving it a try.

Back me up sistahs.

Matryoshka Doll Birthday Party

Last Thanksgiving we visited my sister and her family who live in the Seattle area. During that trip my sweet niece offered to use her own allowance to buy E. a set of nesting dolls she spotted at a fair. I was so touched by this act of kindness that I suggested to my daughter that perhaps we do a matryoshka doll/nesting doll theme for her upcoming birthday...and after spotting these at the Beehive Bazaar how could either one of us resist?

And so the party planning progressed...oh, it was so much fun to plan! Can I just say how grateful I am for Etsy? What would I have done without this fabulous resource?

Here's how the party flowed...


































Decorations were simple...I bought the tableclothes, lanterns, plates, utensils, balloons at a local party store and Xpedx. Everything was very inexpensive. I think the lanterns ended up being 50 cents each. For the banner I printed out one of the pdf's I purchased on Etsy, punched it out into a scalloped circle, and thread it with thin satin ribbon. It didn't take long at all to make. The little nesting doll set that spawned the whole theme flanked the fireplace too :)

At the beginning of the party I led the girls to a crafting table where they could make matryoshka doll notecards for themselves. This was a fun thing to do for 15/20 minutes while guests trickled into the party. I wrapped up each girl's cards in a clear cellophane bag so they could take them home after wards.



































Then, we played "Pin the Bow on the Matryoshka Doll", which is a classic game all children seem to love. Following that game we played "hide and seek" with a set of nesting dolls from IKEA. We hid the dolls, the girls had to find them. After we played "hide and seek" a few times, we played "duck, duck, goose", which didn't follow the theme, of course, but was fun to play anyway! We continued with "limbo"and "pass the button" before sitting down to eat cupcakes & apples. Prizes included little notepads from Japantown in San Francisco, mini-Kolo albums, and handmade goodies picked up on Etsy & Art Market over the past year (those little gifties always seem to come in handy!). I wrapped them in {always-handy} cellophane bags and cut out a little nesting doll to adhere onto the bag. Super easy!














Since I'm all about reading up on "sources", I've listed mine below:

Decorations

Jewelry/Hair Accessory Set for the birthday girl to wear for the party (and counted as a gift)

Crafting Table

Matryoshka doll stamp

Matryoshka doll printable paper for crafting

Party Favors & Prizes

Printable pdf for mini-bookmarks

Babushka ponytail holders from here

Matryoshka doll muslin drawstring bags made by a talented local I discovered at Art Market. Contact me if you want here contact info :) She is willing to create custom bags and offers excellent pricing.

Food & Tabletop

Cupcake toppers (a great stop for kitschy toppers too)

To eat? Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting (half the amount of lemon juice the recipe calls for) and apple slices (my daughter's favorite) to curb the sweetness; both were a big hit with the kids.

Set of 5 Matryoshka dolls from IKEA.

Update:  A few more beautiful birthday party ideas inspired by postage stamps... take a peek!

Curing the January Doldrums

Is it just me or has it been a tough two weeks? Jan 1 - Jan 14 seemed a bit dreary. Could've been the weather. Could've been just me. Who knows? But, I do know that I'm finally out of it thanks to a few proactive measures. In case you were (or still are) feeling a case of the doldrums too, I shall share them with you today.

Caveat: it would've been nice to treat myself to a day at the spa or something luxurious like that but let's be honest...that's not realistic for most of us so let's do this budget style so we can all participate!

Here it goes:

1. Get a good night's sleep

2. Buy fresh plants, maybe 3, for your main living spaces.

3. Drink a fresh squeezed juice (I like Blue Star in SLC--they squeeze your juice upon ordering and have a drive-thru--try the orange/apple/carrot combo)

4. Organize a frequently viewed/used closet or drawer (I did my clothing closet). You'll be amazed at the piece of mind it brings to you.

5. Do something nice for someone else. Bringing joy to someone else will only make you happier.

photo via memoirs of a rainy day

What the Sponsors are Up to this Week

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to promote some incredibly talented people. I personally love their offerings and truly feel they have something unique to offer us all. Since they are always creating something new it seems, I thought I'd share some of their latest and greatest...in case you hadn't taken the time to check them out already :)

Here we go...

I love the idea of framing a cool chair, versus having a cool chair. Less expensive, less of a commitment, yet still the perfect thing to put on a wall in a bedroom, living space or even a bathroom. You can't beat the color combination. Anne really has a great thing going.

If you love iconic chairs in general, check out her hip set of blank cards featuring several beauties in Warhol-esque colors.


If you were getting married, wouldn't you want Justin to take your pictures if they turned out like this? He really gets texture, colors, and depth. I can't wait to have him take our family picture again this year.


I've never seen anything like this...antique typewriter printed envelopes? I LOVE that she pays attention to little details like that---decorating envelopes. How could you not smile when opening this type set "hello" card? You've never sent anything like this before.

Be sure to check out her personalized stationery too (I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves the simplicity of this style of correspondence). It's faaaabulous!


I love this pewter servingware...it's classic, never appears dated, and is offered in both traditional and modern designs. I love the square platters, the squared butter dish, and the squared salt & pepper shakers. They really dress the table up. Like all my sponsors, they offer great pricing too. What's not to love?


I have this print and love it! Thank you Susan for coming up with a modern design for religious art...much appreciated :) I know Design Mom loves them, my sister loves them, and lots of others in the blogosphere too.

Menu of the Week

Normally our weekday meals are not this elevated but since more than just our family was partaking of the food I prepared Monday through Thursday, I upped it a notch. I'll save the "Brupper" dinners for next week (Breakfast + Supper = Brupper if you're wondering!), as well as the black bean burritos and simple soups. I have to admit though, while it was more work than usual, it was so nice to eat good leftovers the next day for lunch. I'm thrilled to say that I haven't had a single quesadilla or pb&j this week yet. Halle-freakin'-lujah!

Lentil Sausage Soup, avocado salad, artisan sourdough bread, fresh fruit...I don't really like kielbasa so I substitute Harmon's housemade italian sausage and love it so much more; the best price locally on french lentils is at the International Market. This is also an excellent vegetarian meal if you eliminate the sausage.



Grilled Salmon (the Husband grilled it on a bed of tin foil with green onions, some butter, and herbs), herb roasted potatoes, salad & bread.

Italian Stew, Salad, crusty bread...next time I'll cut the green olives in half to spread out the intense flavor a little more. I also used chicken breasts with the thighs since I favor white meat a little more.

Mustard Roasted Chicken with Vegetables, Mini Cheese Souffles, Butter Lettuce Salad, artisan bread (I love good bread, can you tell?!). When making the main dish, I like to add some good balsamic vinegar to the vegetables as well. I just throw a little on top before roasting.

Friday is going to be a date night...I'm hoping for something cheap and light...and Saturday some of our friends are treating us to a homemade dinner (sweet!) so I'm off the hook for the weekend. I can't wait!

Cookie Blurb

I'm positively giddy inside at the sight of my favorite parenting mag, Cookie, mentioning my son's party on their rockin' blog. Thank you editors! You can see the write-up here, in the "entertaining" section. I can't wait to share another birthday party with you all in a few days...think "nesting dolls" :)

While on the subject of Cookie, check out this cute ditty about old-fashioned party games. Can I just say I wish I'd had this on hand last Saturday when throwing another party? (this time for my oldest daughter). Argh. Hopefully this gets to you in time...I think every kiddo deserves a fun homespun birthday party at least once!






































Also, if you're in the market for a cute, but economical party invitation (think "free"!), look no further. Cookie posted 3 party invitations courtesy of lovely Egg Press, for your downloading pleasure. Print these out on nice, heavy 80 lb plus cardstock and you'll have yourself an uber-inexpensive, yet lively party invitation.

Orla Kiely for Target

I just might have to "up" my trips to Target given the recent announcement of Orla Kiely's soon-to-arrive line of housewares. I'm not sure my once-every-two-months stipulation is going to fly :) I find shopping there quite tempting given how inexpensive and well-designed many things are--Orla Kiely being no exception. Must.stay.within.budget. :)

via Black Eiffel via sfgirlbybay via Apartment Therapy; picture via oh hello friend on flickr

Budget Bedroom Makeover: My Desk

I shared my reading nook with you here, and now I'm {finally!} ready to share my desk space as well. Boy, this Budget Makeover gig has really dragged out...I guess that's what happens when you are trying to save $ and find the best deals!

I have to say I love my new space...it's really simple, clean, and appealing to me somehow. My only regret is not being able to spend more time there...those quiet moments don't come as frequently as they used to :) However, it is nice to have a quiet space, that's just mine, where I can make lists, write correspondence, dream a little, etc. Since I'm a firm believer that every woman needs "alone time" every day for a short while, I'm pretty happy I have a place to turn. Thankfully I do have the pleasure of looking at it every single day, as it is in my bedroom, which somehow makes me feel like I'm "using the space". In addition, the Husband likes draping his clothes on my desk chair so he also finds it worthwhile to have around too :) I mostly used things/pieces I already had to curb costs, so it turned out to be a less-than-$100-total project--that's furniture, accessories, board, fabric...everything.

I made an inspiration board (inspired by many-a-blog) to utilize the height of the wall, and to also create a space for all the little notes, cards, and pictures I like to display in a casual way. Also, since the desk provides zero storage, I needed to figure out an attractive way to provide some for myself :) I found this photo storage box and decided it would do the trick. It hides my pens, papers, cards, and any other junk I want to throw in there!
























Since I'm always cruising the "Resources" section of beloved magazines, I thought I'd share all the ins and outs with you...in case there is one person out there like me! I LOVE to know where people pick up their great stuff :)

Starting with the Basics:

* desk - found in IKEA's "As-Is" section
* chair - from the Husband's old office space
* board - made from paperboard sold at Home Depot and fabric from Joanns
* white canvas box - a Bukoos find; originally from the catalogue Exposures
* pottery - from Ali's moving sale; letterpress calendar inside from Amber
* pencils - Muji
* mini calendar - Snow & Graham
* plant & pot - Cactus & Tropicals
* clip lamp - from Pottery Barn originally but I bought it on Craigslist

There ya have it! I'd love to see pictures of your personal spaces/office areas so feel free to pass along a picture to me if you have a moment.

Knotty and Nice

I know this project is kind of summery but since there are many-a-lucky-folk heading on to warmer pastures these days, I thought I'd post it anyway...

Awhile back I found a pretty scarf at a consignment store in San Francisco (Crossroads on Fillmore) just after I read this d-i-y in one of Blueprint's first issues. However, it took me forever to finally complete this little project because I wasn't sure where to find the bamboo bangles for the style of purse I wanted to make. However, one fine day, when shopping at Joann Fabrics for some Christmas craft items for my kids (reindeer candy canes are a yearly tradition in my house), I stumbled upon them...and they were only $5 for the set. I thought, why not? I'll just save the bag for the Spring/Summer season.

It turned out well, although it seems the bags need to be fairly full to look attractive. I bet a light coat or a weightier scarf would do the trick.

You can find the tutorial here. Miss you Blueprint.

Pitching In

May the recession bring out the best in us, and not the worst. May we find skills, talents, and increased motivation to improve ourselves and our lives. May we appreciate what we have. May we be more tender, and less tough. May we be less like the contestants on True Beauty :)

Just a few thoughts from this poignant essay featured in Time recently. Read it here.