Just read this great post on how to make letterpress more affordable - the tips are geared toward letterpress for wedding invitations, but it's great information nonetheless.
image via studio on fire
January 25, 2010
January 21, 2010
before and after: seriously smart interior design
Here's a quick post that I had to share because it's pretty brilliant. When you have a small space to deal with and you want to make it look bigger and create drama - this is a great idea.
Please note in the before photo, the small window on the left and how tiny the room feels. In the after photo, see how the room appears larger due to hanging the curtains high, and having them span the length of the wall! This gives the illusion that the window is actually larger. And that huge pendant light and black ceiling doesn't hurt either. The after is bright, light and lovely. And so smart! This is one idea to bookmark for later. Enjoy!
found via design*sponge
Please note in the before photo, the small window on the left and how tiny the room feels. In the after photo, see how the room appears larger due to hanging the curtains high, and having them span the length of the wall! This gives the illusion that the window is actually larger. And that huge pendant light and black ceiling doesn't hurt either. The after is bright, light and lovely. And so smart! This is one idea to bookmark for later. Enjoy!
found via design*sponge
January 20, 2010
wonder foodie: thrown together
You know, that last post was so ... brown! Time to spice it up a bit with some pumpkin soup. I had an Australian Blue (gray, really) pumpkin from my mom and sister's trek to the pumpkin patch that really needed to be cooked - can you believe it lasted so long? I didn't want to waste it, so I roasted it late last week for 8 hours at 200F a la this recipe. It was so easy to take the seeds out and scoop all the pumpkin out - but what to do with it now? I didn't want to make a pie, so soup it was! A hybrid of this recipe and this one, with a lot of spices and improvisation.
Here it is with sour cream, cilantro, and homemade croutons. Forgive the laptop camera photo. A mid-week soup for a rainy day, and inspiration to throw more recipes together.
Here it is with sour cream, cilantro, and homemade croutons. Forgive the laptop camera photo. A mid-week soup for a rainy day, and inspiration to throw more recipes together.
January 15, 2010
wonder foodie: rolling pins
On an impromptu date night, the Hubba and I made pizza. One of the menu resolutions I made for our new kitchen was to make a white pizza, or pizza bianco if you will. With sweet Italian sausage, mozzarella, creamy dollops of ricotta, mushrooms, lemon zest, and piles of fresh arugula on top. And we did just that. We picked up some pre-made pizza dough, googled how to toss the perfect pizza, and got crackin'. The Hubba is exceptionally good at tossing pizza as we discovered!
Although we had a great time, I had overlooked one thing. The need for a rolling pin to roll the dough out a bit first!
You would never have guessed that it's actually pretty essential to pizza making. But one glance at us trying to roll it out with a can covered in plastic wrap was pathetic, truly pathetic. We also tried it with a bottle, but that didn't quite work either. So, that brings me to the sometimes helpful rolling pin. I have quite a few kitchen gadgets that were lovely wedding gifts, but none included a rolling pin. Simple wood, and sometimes simply lovely. See these below by Herriot Grace, these are just a few of her lovely products that she creates with her father.
So maybe I'll acquire one of these lovely pins before our next date night!
Although we had a great time, I had overlooked one thing. The need for a rolling pin to roll the dough out a bit first!
You would never have guessed that it's actually pretty essential to pizza making. But one glance at us trying to roll it out with a can covered in plastic wrap was pathetic, truly pathetic. We also tried it with a bottle, but that didn't quite work either. So, that brings me to the sometimes helpful rolling pin. I have quite a few kitchen gadgets that were lovely wedding gifts, but none included a rolling pin. Simple wood, and sometimes simply lovely. See these below by Herriot Grace, these are just a few of her lovely products that she creates with her father.
So maybe I'll acquire one of these lovely pins before our next date night!
January 14, 2010
spuds not duds
Lately I've been into brainstorming food-themed parties -- cake decorating parties, dumpling parties, noodle parties and etc. So since it had been so cold, I wanted to have a baked potato party. Nothing's better than tons of warm and delicious carbs to keep you toasty on a chilly night, right? So what did I do? I kid you not, I googled "perfect baked potato" and came up with this recipe.
A few nights later, we had a lovely Christmas with our families, and I made homemade corn nuts with my sister. I took some home, and began to plan for an upcoming Spuds night. I set out to have lots of toppings - cheddar and pepperjack cheeses, green onions, olives, homemade chili, sour cream, and butter. No time to make the broccoli, but I will save it for next time. The potatoes were delicious, with crispy perfect skins and silky and snowy on the inside - not dry and chalky like some potatoes can be. And the prep was so easy! Serve it with a salad, and you're set. Here are a few photos, courtesy of my lovely guests. Next party? How about a won ton party? Can't wait.
A few nights later, we had a lovely Christmas with our families, and I made homemade corn nuts with my sister. I took some home, and began to plan for an upcoming Spuds night. I set out to have lots of toppings - cheddar and pepperjack cheeses, green onions, olives, homemade chili, sour cream, and butter. No time to make the broccoli, but I will save it for next time. The potatoes were delicious, with crispy perfect skins and silky and snowy on the inside - not dry and chalky like some potatoes can be. And the prep was so easy! Serve it with a salad, and you're set. Here are a few photos, courtesy of my lovely guests. Next party? How about a won ton party? Can't wait.
December 26, 2009
everything must have its place
If there's one thing I've learned about organizing a house over the past few years, it's that every single thing must have its place. Now, I'm not perfect at it, but these are a few tips that I've learned and wanted to remember. I was very proud to have cleaned the house for 12 hours the other day --- I don't think I'll do that again, but my bathroom is so much better for it. I should have taken pictures!
1. Consolidate. Don't be afraid to throw things away. We always think we'll look over those dated notes or that we'll wear those old clothes, but in reality we won't. If you haven't used it or thought of it in months, donate it or throw it away. A great way to remember those notes and keep down on paper hoarding is to take a photo of a card or note with a digital camera and then throw it away. Remember to use the macro mode so you can still read it from the digital photo! This has been saving me!
2. Take note of what you really need. One day, I walked around my house with a notepad and made a list of all the things that were out of order or things that needed a place or receptacle. I had stray hair ties and cups on my nightstand, the dog's leash was never in the same place, the napkins had no home, and our collection of plastic grocery bags was overflowing. There were some simple solutions to these problems, a tray with a few bowls on my nightstand as a catch-all, installing a few hooks for the leash and other hangables, purchasing an inexpensive napkin holder, and minimizing the plastic bag intake for our household (take it back to the store for recycling!).
3. Be creative with what you already have. Rearranging furniture, repurposing old items and utilizing what you currently own is a great way to mix up your decor and organize your home. I received a great print as a gift, and the mat for the frame wasn't being used, so I re-purposed it for another print. Wonderful!
4. When you get something new, give away something else. This is the surefire way to make sure you're not just accumulating things and keeping them -- I've learned this is the easiest way to acquire clutter. I'm still in the process of giving away so many things that I don't need. I've got craft supplies galore and old college text books that are begging to be thrown away or given to those who need it.
5. Keep to the useful and beautiful clause. William Morris was a textile designer and is best known for his quote "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful" and it is very true! All other things are just taking up space! What a great guideline to purging and organizing.
1. Consolidate. Don't be afraid to throw things away. We always think we'll look over those dated notes or that we'll wear those old clothes, but in reality we won't. If you haven't used it or thought of it in months, donate it or throw it away. A great way to remember those notes and keep down on paper hoarding is to take a photo of a card or note with a digital camera and then throw it away. Remember to use the macro mode so you can still read it from the digital photo! This has been saving me!
2. Take note of what you really need. One day, I walked around my house with a notepad and made a list of all the things that were out of order or things that needed a place or receptacle. I had stray hair ties and cups on my nightstand, the dog's leash was never in the same place, the napkins had no home, and our collection of plastic grocery bags was overflowing. There were some simple solutions to these problems, a tray with a few bowls on my nightstand as a catch-all, installing a few hooks for the leash and other hangables, purchasing an inexpensive napkin holder, and minimizing the plastic bag intake for our household (take it back to the store for recycling!).
3. Be creative with what you already have. Rearranging furniture, repurposing old items and utilizing what you currently own is a great way to mix up your decor and organize your home. I received a great print as a gift, and the mat for the frame wasn't being used, so I re-purposed it for another print. Wonderful!
4. When you get something new, give away something else. This is the surefire way to make sure you're not just accumulating things and keeping them -- I've learned this is the easiest way to acquire clutter. I'm still in the process of giving away so many things that I don't need. I've got craft supplies galore and old college text books that are begging to be thrown away or given to those who need it.
5. Keep to the useful and beautiful clause. William Morris was a textile designer and is best known for his quote "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful" and it is very true! All other things are just taking up space! What a great guideline to purging and organizing.
December 24, 2009
merry christmas and to all a good night
Merry Christmas, everyone!"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" Luke 2:10-12
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