There is a right way to say thank you...

[and for those of you true readers, the background is my chilewich table mat!]

So ugly, they're cute!

I first found UGLY DOLLS at Paper Source in Kansas City & have fallen in love with the line! My niece needs one, but since she doesnt know she needs one, she can wait until she knows her Auntie Shawna got her just the perfect ugly doll for her(they all have stories!) I have hers all picked out!

These are a few of my favorite things...

I know, it has been a while! I have been traveling heavily this January, spending 12 of the last 26 days on the road...and trying to plan a cross-country move when time allows. Life has been a little hectic, but I have sat on enough planes (six, to be exact) to thoroughly catch up on my magazine habit and get some inspiration for this next post.

I tend to be a magazine reader (vs. a book reader) because a) I have a short attention span and b) I want current information that can enhance my life. I read a LOT of magazines every month and at the top of my pile is always Real Simple. It is jam packed with articles that advise, instruct & inspire. This year's January issue didn't disappoint & it inspired this post. The issue covered the "smartest, most useful products for: home, fashion, cooking, beauty, & health." I am going to borrow their categories & give you my MUST HAVES...many of which happened to pop up in the issue itself! Below you will find my list of things I cannot live without. Anything on it has at least two years of use in my home. So here it goes...you will find pictures of everything in every header.

MY LIST OF THE SMARTEST, MOST USEFUL, PRODUCTS FOR...

• The Dyson Animal Vacuum w/ Telescoping Wand The price may make you squint your eyes and scream "What?!? For a vacuum!!!?!" but I assure you it is worth it! I fill up its bag less container every week with more pet hair than I even imagined blanketed my home. It has a bare floors setting, which means the broom is obsolete. Check the target ads, usually they run a special where you pay full price, but get a $100 gift card which somehow makes it less of a blow. I actually look forward to vacuuming now!
• Spot Shot This carpet cleaner is the only one that gets the nastiest of nasty stains out of my white carpet. From muddy puppy paws, to kitty puke-this one has kept my carpet sparkling. I went through about a dozen brands before I found this one. You can buy it in 4 packs at Sam's or Costco.
• Method Wood for Good Most wood cleaners I have used in the past were so waxy that they would catch the cat hair floating in the air & make the surface I just cleaned look dirty is seconds, not to mention sticky for days. This is a pleasant almond scented cleaner that is non toxic & gentle on you & the environment. Couple it with Get a Grip, the microfiber cloth and you've got yourself a great cleaner for that kitchen table & nightstand that will make them both shine.
  
• Starbucks Proteo Barista Espresso Machine Though Starbucks no longer makes this machine, it is found on eBay & craigslist at very affordable prices. This gem of a purchase has probably saved me more money than any appliance. Starbucks sells the espresso "pods" so you can make the perfect strength espresso shot to drink alone or in my case, add to my latte in the morning. I swear this machine paid for itself in 6 months. I can make a better cup of coffee at home than any Starbucks can!
  
• Chilewich Table Mats I stumbled upon these a couple of years ago at the Sur la Table in town & fell in love with the line. I have the mini basket weave, in shades of green in a set of four for my table and these look identical today, to what they did three years ago. They are made of "plynyl" and can be cleaned in the sink w/soap and water, or even with bleach if you want to get aggressive. The real simple also features their rugs, which I cannot vouch for. I am probably going to splurge on one this year...
  

• UGG Boots Though I used to think these were just some status symbol, my move to the Midwest has taught me otherwise. I think I wear my tall, light sand, mosaic print uggs just about every day during the winter! They are a must have if the temp goes below freezing. Now, whether you really need them in places like California or (gasp) Texas is up for debate but here where the temp has averaged in the teens lately, we need our uggs. They have replacement inserts & special cleaning solution made by the company to make these last through the years...
  
• Hanky Panky These are the absolute most comfortable thong! The lace on the side prevent any lines from showing through and the design is flawless. Many brands have knocked these off but Hanky Pankies are the originals. I prefer the low rise version. They are one size fits all. The only undies I'll wear! Though a bit expensive, they can be found discounted at the Nordstrom half yearly sale as well as at Neimans Last Call outlet stores. Wash in a mesh bag w/ Woolite and they will clean up beautifully!
  
• Spanx Truly original...started with footless pantyhose and now they make shapers for ever need! I especially love their Power Panties & Higher Power designs. They say whats underneath makes the look...and obviously I prescribe to that theory!
• Chantelle Senso 2701 I happen to be one of those naturally busty gals who needs more than a pretty bra to keep me looking good. I searched for years for the perfect undergarment and everything above a D-cup always had huge straps and full coverage. There was nothing that worked well and was pretty or even just normal looking. Alas, the chantelle senso t-shirt bra! My favorite part about this bra--the straps have adjustable positioning in the back. There are two loops inside the normal bra positioning that lie closer to the hooks in the middle of the back. This keeps the bra straps from falling down your shoulders and from showing in any sleeveless tanks. I am VERY passionate about this well constructed piece of french lingerie!
• Paige Premium Denim These quickly have replaced 7 for all Mankind as my favorite jeans. The short story: Paige was the fit model for many of the brands of denim we love. This means the jeans were modeled around her body. She was the model for 7, Habitual, True Religion, Lucky, Citizens for Humanity and many more. She decided to build her own company and it is fabulous. My favorites are the Laurel Canyon cut. Check out her interactive fit guide to find your ideal cut. There is even a hidden ID holder in the back pocket in case you don't want to carry a purse while out on the town!

• Everyday Food This magazine has transformed my cooking! A Martha Stewart Magazine, it covers not only tons of recipes but educates readers about all things cooking! From veggies to knives, it is so educational. I find the recipes easy & healthy and many of them are our household staples. It is one of those smaller magazines that you can grab near the checkout but of course, a subscription is cheaper. A few times a year there are supplements called "Good Things" that are creative compilations of crafts and tips for homekeeping.
  
• Allrecipes.com Another resource that has transformed my cooking! This is a huge user driven database of recipes. There are a few features that make this place great. First, you can sort recipes based on how many stars they have been given. You can also see the number of reviews and base your decisions on how many other people cook that recipe. The BEST feature is the comments feature. Much like epicurious, those who have tried the recipe can post comments about their alterations. Usually, you can find a few people who made each recipe much healthier and improve the quality of the meal by using the suggestions.
  
• Nordicware I love to bake but in order to make a pretty finished product, the pan must be high quality. I have Nordicware for all seasons, since they make beautiful molds in many shapes & sizes. My most used: pumpkin loaf pan. Somehow food just tastes better when it is beautiful! You can find most Nordicware for 50% off after the holidays at Sur La Table, my favorite cooking store!
  
• LeCreuset Silicone Spatula Alas, the best spatula ever!! Even visiting cooking friends have commented on the perfect design of this kitchen tool. I initially bought this one because it was hot pink and sparkly (sparkles are in the silicone) but soon found it to be perfectly balanced & easy to grip the rounded handle. The silicone is the perfect consistency! Tuesday Morning often carries the LeCreuset line of silicone highly discounted, but never in as cool colors as Sur La Table. :)
  
• Jo!e Non Stick Omelet Pan Just the perfect size for a single omelet! I have the double pan and the single one, along with the mini flipper & the mini whisk. The double pan makes the most fluffy, perfect omelet every time. It fits perfectly on an English muffin for a great egg sandwich. Every tool & pan has the cute little egg guy on the handle!
  

• Bare Minerals This is my favorite line of makeup. I don't wear a lot, but my favorites in this line that I do wear just about every day are the SPF 15 Foundation, Faux Tan (better than Warmth for a bronzer), and Mineral Veil (no more shine!). I really do love this line of makeup & it is great for your skin!
  
• Shu Uemura Basic Mascara Best mascara ever! Goes on without any clumps & separated lashes perfectly. I also really like the brand's eyelash curler. It is usually the pick by celebrity makeup artists and perfectly shapes the eye for a flawless curl every time.
• Kerastase Reflection Most of you know that my redheadedness is not natural...thus I need a great shampoo & conditioner to hold that color! My blonde locks just want to let it go...This is the best shampoo & masque I have found. It makes my hair shiny as ever!
  
• Super Solano Hair Dryer I have had this same hair dryer since my junior year of college and it is still going strong 6 years later! Talk about a worthwhile investment! This dryer cut my drying time in half when I first purchased it and when people visit & use it...they usually end up buying one of their own!
  
• Chi 1in Flat Iron This is the only hot tool I use. It can curl just as well as a curling iron and yet flatten straight as a board! A one stop shop! This is the original ceramic flat iron.
  
  
  
• Fish Oil Capsules I swear these make my skin more hydrated. Since I began using them, I have seen a big difference. There are also an insane amount of health benefits associated with their consumption--click the link above to see the Mayo Clinic's evidence. My OB also said that taking these along with a prenatal vitamin during pregnancy prevents the need to use a stool softener since fish oil is naturally provides that benefit. I had a hard time taking them at first because I didn't like the taste I burped up...but Martha taught me if you freeze them & take them just before bed, you wont get any of the nasty taste! My vet even encouraged me to give one or two a day to my dog to shine up his coat. He now drools for them...
  
• Vaniqa You know that bit of peachy fuzz we ladies get on our cheeks that we [oh, no she didn't] shave, wax & pluck? Meet Vaniqa. A prescription cream that keeps that fuzz from growing. It stops any hair growth where you rub it in. It says to use it twice per day, but I only rub it on once per day and it has kept my face nice and hairless for three years! Patience is necessary...it takes about 6 months of use to start working but it is GREAT!
  
• Prenatal Vitamins Most doctors will tell you the generic brand you find at Costco will suit you just fine. Did you know that you have to be taking a Prenatal Vitamin BEFORE conception to reap all the benefits for your baby? Since 50% of all pregnancies in the US are unplanned, it's not a bad idea to be taking one just in case. I know, you're on the pill...but of these unintended pregnancies, 44% are behavior related method failures. What can it hurt to take one anyway? Thicker hair? Beautiful fingernails? Not a bad idea! **NEW NEWS 1/31/08-a study of over 35,000 women who took folic acid supplements for at least a year before becoming pregnant cut their chances for very early preterm births (20-28wks) by 70%. Most prenatals have at least 400mcg of folic acid, try to find one w/ at least 800mcg(.8mg) if you can!
  
• Heart Rate Monitor Ever at the gym and wonder how hard you are working? The best way to know is to wear a heart rate monitor & be sure you are at your target heart rate. I have a Polar HRM and it has lasted over 8 years now. I am so impressed that most of the cardio machines have picked up this technology and have built in sensors so you can actually set your Target Heart Rate at the start of your run and the speed will adjust so you always hit your THR. Genius!
  
• Nalgene OTG Bottles It pretty much goes without saying, but we need to drink a lot of water. My favorite bottle for in the car and for working out is this Nalgene bottle that I can open with one hand. It holds just enough water for a good workout and is the prefect fit for in the car cup holders. I take one with me on the road everyday and have a commitment to myself to drink the whole thing before I am back home. It sounds easy...but I think it is a challenge!

What are your MUST HAVE favorite things??

First Self Portrait

Just messing around with my camera, playing with what it can do. I took this of myself today.

I didnt have it in me to photoshop out my stress induced forehead wrinkles. This is me!

(I tend to be the most cooperative subject...)

-

Since I didnt retouch my forehead on the above pic, I thought I would use my new Photoshop Elements Classroom in a Book to experiment with the photo below. Poof! Wrinkles gone!

I wanted a picture of me & my camera. All of these shots were taken using the reflection in a mirror. I had fun! (and it was all in manual mode!)

Hugh Comstock's Storybook Homes in Carmel, CA

In the current issue of Cottage Living (one of my favorite magazines,) I came upon a few pages that kept me lingering until I had the images burned into my brain. There was a feature article on a fairly unknown builder, Hugh Comstock, who built a series of 20-25 cottages all in a unique storybook style that I found SO interesting! These homes looked like a mixture of whimsy & fantasy, as the article so well words it. Check out a couple pictures of his work:

As a fairly type-A-everything-needs-to-line-up kind of person, I don't think I could ever live in a home that has exterior trim purposely cut with an imperfect line. I still think these are the most charming cottages I have seen in a while. You can check out the full article & tons more pictures here in the digital copy. (Click the pages putton at the top and move your mouse over the thumbnails, it's pg 96) If you want to find this article at the store, look for the Jan/Feb issue with the following cover:

Baby Dreams

Can you tell I am procrastinating from Sunday chores? I love looking at baby rooms & secretly planning out my own future children's rooms & this is probably my favorite ensemble so far. I discovered The Land of Nod as part of the Crate & Barrel catalog & have completely fallen in love with the style! I am not usually one for bright colors, but I absolutely LOVE this room!

The website is copy & paste protected so I had to scan my original. For the link w/ zoom abilities (see the polka dot sheets!!) click here.

The Economically & Environmentally Responsible Choice

So, we are moving in a few months and with that brings a plethora of changes, including the turning in of my company car in the event that I cannot transfer. We are currently planning the purchase of two new vehicles just in case. My husband (bless him) has been able to happily drive his 1993 Buick all this time with no major problems. He has taken impeccable care of it, but even so, every trip to the body shop results in a $600-700 repair bill so it is probably time to kiss the Regal goodbye. We are looking to replace it with a hybrid, just to do our part for the environment & cut down on costs since gas is seemingly never going to get cheaper. Since cars are not something he cares about (well, at least from an image standpoint) he has decided that the $3/day the prius would cost to commute to the hospital each day next year is quite appealing. It's not a fancy car, but a car is just a piece of metal that is usually overpriced and only depreciates in value everyday. Check out the impressive specs below:

The above is from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/. What is your footprint?

Do you have any experience with a Prius or a hybrid? I would love to hear from you if you do...

Linen Pinboard

Ohhh if only I could make my current salary by blogging & doing creative projects around the home...wouldn't that be a dream! This week brought the return of work which means a lot less time to be creative. So, I am going to post pics from a project I did a few months ago that is so practical & good looking! Here is my inspiration:

I saw a picture of these linen tiles (above) and thought it would be really neat to put a pinboard above my craft desk in my office. This way I could keep inspirational/fun items out in front of me while creating. So, determined to spend as little as possible (the pottery barn pricing was outrageous for as simple as this is to make) I got to working. I wanted to frame a large tackboard with a frame that matched my desk & use linen to cover a tackboard for inside the frame. The above picture was my first inspiration & this woven ribbon pinboard furthered my design concept.

I bought a large corkboard from Hobby Lobby, using one of their weekly 40% off one item coupons (subscribe online if you dont already get this!!). A week or so earlier I got a bargain deal on the linen I used for this project. It was originally $30/yd and was being clearanced out for $10/yd. They applied that week's 40% off coupon, plus the extra 30% off fabric discount and I cant even tell you what I paid per yard. Probably $4-5--what a deal! I have extra that I will make into a headboard for the guestroom when we move, that way everything matches!!

Okay, onto the project. I folded neat corners and used a staple gun to pull the linen tight on the corkboard:

Viola! All stretched & ready to go using only the tools you see here:

This is the frame I bought (again, one week using a 40% coupon) to match my ivory furniture (excuse the spot, camera issue):

I used my sketchbook to determine the overlapping of the ribbon & measured out perfect squares:

I found ribbon that had fine stitching the same color as my walls!!

And here is the final product (well, what was the final product) I added a few tacks to hold up the ribbon so it didn't sag or drop items. A little tip: instead of using ugly pushpins, go to Home Depot or Lowes & find some furniture upholstery tacks. They are super cheap and you can find them in really pretty finishes & designs. Mine are bronze in an antique daisy shape and were $0.50 for a box of 25:

I am in the middle of my wedding scrapbook (I know, 3 & 1/2 years later) so I put all of my graphics up so I can see them all & don't forget what I have. This way I can properly design each page with all the available resources! It may not look as fabulous anymore, but is so practical!

Isn't she the cutest kid ever?

This is my niece, Kyra. I think she is the cutest baby ever. This was taken by her talented Mommy & part of the family christmas card. You can see the complete card her mom designed here. :) Oh, I miss her like crazy!

Happy New Year!

I am not one for resolutions but I think it is a good time of year to be reflective.

2007 was the best year I have had so far. I was able to create a little more, cook a little more, bake a little more, eat a little less, exercise a little more, love a little more and stress a little less. I will continue to do these things and hopefully make next year just as good as the last.

One thing I am going to work on this year is making small steps to reduce the amount of waste I (we) create. My 2008 initiative is reducing my use of plastic bags. They are so harmful for the environment, here are some facts:

• Americans throw away about 100 billion plastic bags annually, 0.6 percent of which are recycled.
• It takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to break down in a landfill, according to the Environmental Protection Agency
• Plastic bags are made from crude oil and natural gas, both nonrenewable resources
• For more on what bags to to our environment and our wild animals, visit here or here.

I went to Whole Foods yesterday and purchased my reusable 80% recycled bags. They are part of the a Better Bag campaign and I happen to think they are quite sassy! I figure, just by making this small change, that I can save at least 400 grocery bags from being used just this year alone. They were 99 cents each and if one breaks, you can bring it back to the store for a free exchange. They sure are making it easy. This is my new bag:

Additionally, I have two other ways to save excess waste when you shop. I try to get one large bag from the first retailer I visit, and add the additional purchases I make to that one bag. I also carry a large purse and actually use that extra space to carry small purchases that I don't need bags to carry. This might be the excuse you needed to go buy that fancy new big handbag you see in all those fashion mags! Somehow my husband might not see how my large handbag will save the environment, but its worth a try, right?!?

Morning Plans

My favorite coffee cup, filled with a piping hot latte. Off to understand exposure...

(p.s. I'm off auto mode...can you tell?? Here's to shooting manually!!)

Sticks & Ice

I found this website a couple years ago and thought it was such a simple concept, but really cool. Sticks & Stones allows you to select from an assortment of photographs of shapes found in public places that happen to look like letters. You pick what you want it to spell and which exposure of each letter you prefer and just like that, the company makes hundreds of dollars per framed set.

One of the things I wanted to do with my new camera was do my own version of this. I am in the infant stages of learning to photograph correctly but here is my first attempt at a "Y", taken on the foggy, icy, cold morning that was today:

Merry Christmas Eve!

My creative projects will be on the back burner for a little while as I learn how to use my new fancy camera. I am still using it on auto mode but am learning more everyday! Hopefully soon I will graduate onto the next level. I have four little critters as available subjects...here is a taste from the first couple days with my new toy:

This is Missy, one of my three siamese-ish cats. She is the sweet one and has some creepy bright eyes. I didn't touch them when editing, they are really that crazy:

This is my favorite "beginners" shot. I haven't quite mastered the quick focus. This, however, is a great representation of my nosy puppy. Anything his mom does, he must be a part of:

Martha's Warm Chocolate Cakes

Today is my husband's birthday and to spoil his chocoholic side I decided to make him a super special cake for his birthday. Six cakes to be exact. The recipe for Martha's Warm Chocolate Cakes was highly recommended to me by Ms. Maggie and I wanted to give it a whirl.

(I am not ignoring my husband on his birthday...I am sitting here laughing at him trying to bowl on his brand new Nintendo Wii!! It is so cool!!)

Back to baking...this was the most labor intensive, patience necessary recipe I have made in a while. I took lots of pictures of the gazillion steps. It turned out very well, though extremely rich. It was too rich for me, but the hubby loved it. :) Success! Here's the process (it took a total of 6 hours):

Prepped & ready. I made the ganache & froze it in the tray. Took 2 hours to freeze solid:

This looked SO gross! I thought I did it wrong! I couldn't find ground almonds so I threw sliced almonds in the food processor:

Egg Whites & sugar (really I just wanted to take a picture of my new mixer in action!):

Above two mixed then placed 3 TBS in the ramekin. Added the cube that will be the molten filling then covered w/ the rest of the batter:

Ready for the oven:

WOW!!! 20 minutes later:

And now the tricky part. I used PAM w/ flour which is a phenomenal product:

Final product!!! Ooey Gooey goodness. I wished I would have placed the cube vertical in the ramekin because the batter didn't form well around the perimeter. Next time around...and the only pic I took was blurry. Grr! Still looks yummy!

Leave some love would ya?!?

Ok, so in the last week I have received messages galore that you are reading my blog...let me know you've dropped by and leave me some love! I just assume I am writing to my sister in law...since she is the only frequent commenter! Really though, I would love this to me more of a correspondence/sharing of ideas blog so let me know you've been here and share some creativity or even just an opinion. Do you love it? Hate it? Have a better idea? Creativity is all about inspiration and I cant be inspired if I am not learning new things.

Speak up!!! Help me out! Be creative!!! The more the merrier...

Corner Bakery's Cinnamon Pecan Rugalach

This weekend while in Chicago, we had breakfast at this cute little bakery called the Corner Bakery which was (surprise) on a corner just up from our hotel at 123 Wacker Street. I grabbed the Cinnamon Pecan Rugalach thinking they looked yummy and was curious having never tasted Rugalach before. MmmmmmMmmmm were they good! After doing a little research I learned it is a Jewish pastry that has many different variations. These were the ones I grabbed:

Now that I cant just pop over and pick some up, I am looking to recreate them. Have a recipe? I'd love to know what you have made that are close to this.

Oh how I love Michigan Avenue...

So we just HAD to come to Chicago for my husband's very last medical school exam (really, we had to come) so...I urged him to make it a weekend trip. As he began his exam on Friday, I hopped on the train and made my first trip to Michigan Avenue. Fabulous! I found myself enjoying the mass retail offerings but was the most excited at Filene's Basement...bargain city! There was a whole bin of designer jeans...7's, Paige's, Citizen's...all $99 and 25% off. What a dream! Though most of Michigan Avenue was grossly overpriced it was fun to take it all in. I fell in love with the iPhone all over again...

Today we made a trip to Lincoln Park, a quaint boutiquey shopping experience. We encounted the worst wet & snowy weather...goodbye decent hair & dry pants. I learned that the jeans tucked into boots thing isnt just a fashion statement, it is a necessity. Wish I would have brought mine!

Though I had to drag my husband kicking and screaming, I discovered a new store to add to my list of favorites. I read about lululemon in one of my magazines and put it on the list of "shops to visit" whenever I made it to a big city (yes that list exists). When I read the article, I thought that anyone that would spend THAT much on gym pants must be nuts...but I was mistaken. They make, quite possibly, the best gym pants ever. Who says you need to go to the gym to get the best ass?? These pants literally give it to ya. Here is my find of the day, a way too spendy pair of workout pants (umm...reflective polka dots and two tummy panels that suck it all in plus seams that run at the perfect angles...they are like designer jeans, but spandex...another dream come true!) These are the Groove Pants and the two top panels come in a multitude of colors & patterns. But, I had to have the polka dots. These are [sadly] not sold online because you have to get the "in store experience" as they called it. It was a great one. The salespeople are some of the happiest people I have seen. Maybe it's because they get to wear spandex to work??? Purchases come in this nifty little brown box bag that has the cutest inspirational sayings on the back...

Let me also recommend HOTEL 71. It is in the heart of the "magnificent mile" and more affordable than you might think. We are very happy here. (thank you free wifi!)

Kansas City Gems

After a white knuckle drive to Kansas City through an ice storm, we made it safely. The trees were unbelievably gorgeous, sparkling with ice. (pics to come after editing)

After my work duties were fulfilled, I made my first trip to The Plaza which is the shopping mecca of KC. I stumbled upon two of the neatest shops I have seen in a while.

My first find, was The Paper Source. I knew I was in heaven when I first saw their logo, "Do something creative everyday." This was my kind of store! I walked away with a couple of treasures...and a book I have been eyeing for a couple of months. I am inspired already--it was a great buy.

The second store I found gave me heart palpitations. Fabric is one of the things that leaves me sleepless at night. I think forever about the endless possibilites of combinations! I found a store called 1154 LILL that was one of the most creative concepts I have ever seen. She has walls of fabric in the store and about 50 different handbag designs. You choose the handbag design and then you can choose ANY combination of fabric to cover the bag-inside & out. It was a designers dream come true! The fabrics were dreamy and I swear, I could have spent hours there. I was dragged out by my husband after about 45 minutes, but the website is just another dream come true! If you are a gal that likes things to be uniquely yours...and unlike anything that you will see on the street, you have got to check this out! She has everything from makeup bags to clutches to laptop bags and diaperbags. I was so excited about this find!

Here are a couple of examples:

Every single plane of the bag is the fabric of your choice. Oh, I could gush on and on and on about this store!