gift wrap

the container store has some really cute holiday gift wrap --

3 wise men



shepherd's flock



and reindeer frieze



my tip:

if u see something u like online or anywhere -- just grab it b/c last year i fell in love with some marimekko prints at crate and barrel but they sold out before i could get any -- and i loved them so much that 1 year later i still think about it -- but then again, gift wrap is not *just* gift wrap to me :)

resolving to recycle

a few months ago i requested the recycling schedule for my area and then forgot all about it.

last week i found the unopened letter in some papers and resolved to start recycling.

this weekend i went to the container store and got my 3 stacking crates and i'm happy to report i've been recycling for about 4 days now.

i keep forgetting -- and then i have to dig through my kitchen trash, pull out the bottle or whatever, clean it off, rinse it - and then put it in my little recycling station.

today i had a few additional questions so i called the county and got it all figured out -- i had been wondering if i could recycle shredded paper -- turns out u can.

now i'm all geeked out because friday is going to be my *first* day putting out my recyclables (paper) and i can hardly wait.

girly ornaments

i love these girly ornament sets for the holiday season. this one is called best friends --



and this one is called big is beautiful -- i think these are my favorite :)



even if u don't put up a tree -- i think they would look supercute just hanging off of a doorknob -- cuz sometimes it *is* fun just being a girl.

rainy day love

tobias

i have been loving this tobias chair for about 2 months now - finally saw it in person this weekend - and it *is* a thing of beauty - modern, clean lined with a bit of chrome, supremely neutral , plus affordable at $89 --

























i guess everyone is lovin it -- its's been removed from the usa ikea website b/c it's on backorder until march 2008.

and speaking of chairs - remember the bergere? it went for $157.

happy thanksgiving

eat lots. love lots.

-- update 11.26.07 --

went to my cousin's for thanksgiving but forgot to take my camera :(

she made so much food - and it was all so incredibly good - i think the turkey was the best i have ever had - it was really really moist.

• turkey
• cranberry sauce
• sweet potato soufflé
• smashed red bliss potatoes
• macaroni & cheese
• apple cranberry stuffing
• turkey artichoke stuffing
• green beans with almonds
• salad
• 2 pies
• brownies

works as promised

just bought this hoover vacuum - it had 430 positive reviews on amazon, was a consumer reports pick, and costs less than $65.

























my verdict: it works *phenomenally* well - better than any vacuum i have ever used -- if u need a great vacuum this one is it.

r u gonna eat that?

baltimorean #1:
"whatever happened to that little place on the corner?"

baltimorean #2:
"i have no idea - but they had the best spinach dip..."

......................................................................................

the baltimore sun has this nifty tool that may tell u a little more than u ever wanted to know about the state of our local eateries - it's a list of places closed down b/c of sanitation issues. if you do the drop down list for "all of 2007" your screen goes a nice tomato red.

......................................................................................

warning: * indelicate * personal aside:

i was paying my check at a local diner, and the kitchen door had a small window. i saw the guy in the chef's hat performing major excavation of his nasal cavities while standing at his prep counter.

just google me

guess what? i'm googleable.





















:)

holiday cookies 2007

i just found my holiday cookie recipe -- brandied cranberry and white chocolate chip cookies from simply recipes.





be still my heart.

-- update 11.26.07 --

made these for thanksgiving - they turned out wayyyyy different than the above pic. they were more cakelike which some others have said also, and the taste was more subtle than i thought it would be. i'm definitely not a baker and i think i proved it with this recipe :(

$10 perfect chair

this bergere is on ebay for $10, but it's in new york ...

a little bit of stuffing, some new white denim upholstery, and a gray-ish white pickle finish, and i think this would be the most beautiful chair. i wonder what it will go for?

-- update 11.26.07 --

it went for $157.

martha is crafty

right now there are 4 different prices offered for a martha stewart living magazine subscription. i figured this out b/c i went to renew my subscription - and noticed that the price was more than double on amazon compared to what i found on a magazine insert - then i checked her website - and found 2 other offers...

1) - martha on amazon is $28 for 1 subscription - worst offer.

2) - martha website - offer 1 - $24 for 1 subscription:



3) - martha website - offer 2 - if u buy 2 subscriptions u save 13% - getting better:



4) - insert from magazine in store - 2 subscriptions for less than the price of 1 - saving over 50% - so this is the best offer:

























so -- from the first offer to the last, you can save more than half or get a free gift subscription for a friend.

crafty isn't always a * good thing * martha.

foyer

i love canadian designer sarah richardson's work in this foyer -- the subdued gray color palette, trim little sofa, fresh flowers, and that *gorgeous* floor under the sofa -- are just sublime.

in an interview she was asked what her favorite colors were, and she said, "...oyster, cream, silver blue, platinum -— all the shades of a soft rainy day..."

how could i not love her?

thanksgiving - get ready!

if ur hosting thanksgiving this time around - here's my list o' links.

martha does the holidays like her life depends on it - just tons of great info on recipes, crafts, and decorating -- from october to january this website is ground zero for holiday ideas.



real simple has a streamlined thanksgiving menu which i *love* and tips on 40 ways to simplify thanksgiving that include a timeline for what to do, when to do it, and an explanation of the types of turkey available.



butterball's holiday guide would get my vote as the "go to guide" for no nonsense turkey info & recipes. they have some great calculators and don't forget the *original* turkey hot line.

thank you

thank you to all the men, women, and families for the supreme sacrifices you have made in the name of our country.

i only wish we could do more to love and protect you during, and upon your return home, from your journeys of valor.

happy diwali !

may all your days on this earth be full of light, love, and happiness!

























DIWALI means "festival of light" and it is a * huge * indian holiday.

the lights signify the victory of good over evil in the world and within each of us. each religion and community in india attaches their own significance to the festivities - but it's the indian's answer to the fourth of july, christmas, and new years -- all rolled into one!

people wait all year for it - they exchange gifts, shop alot, have huge family gatherings, go to their respective places of worship to offer thanks and light *lots* of candles. they eat TONS of sweet deserts - feeding each other while saying "...you're very sweet and may only sweet things happen to you in life..." they get up in the morning say their prayers as a family, and then in the evening before the day ends - they light a candle in each room of the house - to illuminate every corner and signify God's light and blessings within the home. then there are huge fireworks displays and partying. its lots and lots of fun - and very very beautiful --

the Golden Temple in punjab lit up for diwali,



a girl saying prayers,



children lighting diyas -- which are homemade candles of clay and oil,



making a rangoli - auspicious decorations - of diyas,



a young girl lighting a diya in south africa,



enjoying some fireworks in mumbai,






and of course -- america -- being the truly great country that it is -- tries to understand and embrace everyone - so here's a little treat from the office called the diwali song - i'm lovin it!



pics are from bbc and pam told me about the clip!

i heart brownies

i have this crazy quirk in my personality -- things like a perfectly shaped heart muffin pan are inexplicably important to me. i'm not too concerned about the cholesterol i will be ingesting -- but the shape of the vehicle that delivers the cholesterol to my awaiting arteries is paramount. see -- most heart muffin pans have "skinny" hearts, or the inverted peak at the top isn't deep enough -- for whatever reason they just never look right to me...

but this morning, in walmart, i spied some almost perfect "fat" heart muffin pans. i almost couldn't get home fast enough to try them out -- but i think my brownie frenzy kinda paid off - aren't they cute?

fall leaves

why don't u go for a nice walk and bring autumn home -

- place branches in a vase weighted with stones or fruits
- arrange favorite pictures, cards, or notes among some twigs
- place branches covered with colorful leaves in a vase



tons more holiday ideas and pictures at better homes and gardens.

useful

i love these bags from ikea -- they're about 20" square, have nice long handles, and can hold up to 55 lbs of stuff! and best of all they're only $2. i have some from last year - and i am constantly using them b/c they're so lightweight and yet really strong. they *are* plastic but the way i look at it - when i go shopping i use this one plastic bag (over and over again) as opposed to many small ones.



you can read more here and here about the global effort to ban the use of the smaller plastic bags.

pesto

the first time i tried pesto i didn't like it. it was at tgi-fridays -- yes, i know, a true culinary mecca -- and i couldn't figure out how it made it on a menu that was supposed to appeal to a wide variety of people. fast forward 15 years-- i try it at a friends house and love it. i don't know what happened - i like to think my tastes matured, but i think my friend was just really good at making fresh pesto. so now i'm in the loop, and i even plant basil in the summer and make my own. but the one thing i've always wanted to try is the imported pesto in a tube - it seems more exotically authentic. so when i found this in the discontinued aisle at the grocery store for $2,



i tossed it with only 3 other ingredients - whole wheat pasta, jarred artichokes, and tomatoes for a quick lunch.




on the inside of the pesto packaging they had some suggestions for other quick ways to use pesto:

• swirl some in your soups
  

• mix with mayonnaise for sandwich spread

• toss with sliced tomatoes and mozzarella for a quick salad
  

• salad dressing: buttermilk, dijon mustard, and the pesto

• mix with goat cheese and spread on crackers
  

new

i have a new niece! she was born september 29 in amritsar india. her name is anmoldeep which means "precious treasure". i haven't seen any pics but i have heard that mom and dad are not getting much sleep since she blew into town :) i can hardly wait to see her - i'm sure she has that awesome new baby smell :)

in the meantime i made her some onesies.



"a" and her monogram



litttle indian lady cartoon, and "from small beginnings come great things"



"jatti" loosely translated means "farmgirl" -- agriculturalist family

around

november 1 from my front yard.