House No. 8

cheap and chic

2009-03-31T07:00:00.001-04:00

loving these sale finds from crate and barrel - a chic tote to go w/ your crisp summer whites and a sleek over the cabinet kitchen towel bar.

cheap fontabulousness

2009-03-30T00:50:00.001-04:00

some great finds from three potato four - a $12 pencil/ makeup case and an $8 utility apron.

customize your knob

2009-03-27T00:17:00.006-04:00

3 of 20 simple ideas to pretty up your furniture knobs from diy ideas.

bbc award winner

2009-03-26T23:51:00.002-04:00

just watched the 1st season and i'm still making up my mind. here's the summary from netflix:

The quirky Gallagher family includes a mum who's disappeared, a boozing dad and six very dissimilar kids: surrogate mother Fiona, moody Lip, in-the-closet Ian, bipolar Debbie, rowdy Carl and toddler Liam. Living in a Manchester housing project, the anarchic clan gets into all manners of misadventures. The critically acclaimed and hilarious British series has received numerous accolades, including a BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series.

blue bath Buddha

2009-03-25T07:00:00.001-04:00

what a gorgeous bathroom - vintage and a great robin's egg blue. also makes me think i was right on with my Buddha redo...

pic from canadian house and home.

2" of springtime goodness

2009-03-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

how cute are these handmade gnomes by humblebea?!

salmon with fakeout fried rice

2009-03-23T07:00:00.003-04:00

here's another simple pantry dinner - salmon w/ fakeout fried rice.

bake some salmon at 450 for about 15 minutes.

boil some rice, when the rice is almost done cooking add some frozen veggies - i used peas and corn- and let it steam covered so the veggies get crisp tender.

microwave some whisked eggs to make scrambled eggs w/o any additional fat.

make sauce for salmon - i used approximately 2 parts sweet chili sauce, 1 part soy, and 1 part apple vinegar.

add the eggs to the rice and sauce to the salmon.

sorry about the quality of the pic :)

picture pouch

2009-03-20T07:00:00.001-04:00

i *finally* got my hands on some inkjet fabric, and my 2nd project with the stuff was making this pouch for my friend's birthday. i scanned a pic i had of her, adjusted the color, added a quote, and then stitched it up into a little zipper pouch - click for a bigger pic if you want to see all the groovy details. i think it turned out cute :)

ps - i love that pic of her - and it was taken in agra - home of the taj mahal :)

sew that's a box

2009-03-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

last friday night i signed myself up for my first sewing class and i had so much fun! it was self paced - so you could bring whatever you were working on and the teach would help you out. i wanted to learn how to do a box corner - which was really tough for me b/c it involves manipulating 4 pieces of fabric at right angles - but 2 hours later and i finally managed a recognizable one :)

tuna me-coise

2009-03-18T07:00:00.001-04:00

a few weeks ago martha was focusing on pantry cooking, the gist being that if you have a well stocked pantry - dinner comes easy in a pinch. last week i had a "pinch" so this was my pantry dinner - my uber quick version of tuna nicoise w/ pasta. it wasn't too bad :)

3 cups cooked spaghetti (or any other pasta - linguini, bowtie, etc.)
half 14 oz. can olives, chopped
half 14 oz. can artichokes, chopped
1 6oz. can tuna, drained
1/4 cup italian salad dressing
1 Tbsp. mustard (i always have brown spicy mustard)
red pepper flakes - i use about 1 Tbsp.

mix everything together in a big bowl. makes 2 generous pasta servings or 4 regular servings. this is so easy to change - add cheese, any other veggies, would love to have had tomatoes...the critical pantry staples here were the pasta, tuna, and something to make a dressing.

a size 8 (!) gets this much grief ?!

2009-03-17T14:50:00.001-04:00

worldly

2009-03-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

check out skeem's new candle packaging - serious ethnic flair. the middle one is the indian themed one - with scents of fig and citrus.

auntie knees her pillow

2009-03-16T07:00:00.002-04:00

a couple of weeks ago i bookmarked an awesome rice bag pillow tutorial by the super talented blair of wise craft. i had never even heard of one but quickly found out they're pretty popular. then last week i found out my aunt in va. was having knee surgery for a miniscus tear, and i thought she might appreciate something like...oh, i don't know...a rice pillow! so i went to see her with this little thing i made and she was doing great so we ended up having a fabulous lunch and watched some kick ass indian cable shows :)

canada is no joke

2009-03-13T07:00:00.001-04:00

talking to a friend while googling the canada map, and i realized just how big that place is!!! it's like at least 3x as big as the US - the northern boundary of our alaska isn't even halfway north into canadian territories - which stretch to the arctic! and they have oil fields that are 2nd only to the mideast - and once they figure out how to tap/ leverage that resource - playtime is over. every time i learn something new about canada, i think it's even cooler. ha!

the 3 ladies

2009-03-12T07:00:00.003-04:00

my husband loves these wooden figurines. if he doesn't see them b/c i've put them away to change things up a bit - he always notices and asks me "where the ladies are." i think it's b/c of a story i told him.

i told him i always put them in this order, b/c it's the story of a wife who is patiently waiting for her husband to come home b/c she's made him dinner with lots of love and of course she won't eat until her beloved is home safe and sound (lady 1) but he's late, and now he's explaining what took him so long and she's listening to him talk (lady 2) but somehow the excuse isn't good enough and she gets mad (lady 3) and now he has to shower her with love and apologies so they can have dinner in peace.

when i told him he was listening very intently, then he laughed and said her husband was a lucky guy. but whenever he cleans the table, i never have to tell him - the ladies are always put back in exactly the same order :)

bookends and Buddhas

2009-03-11T05:00:00.000-04:00

i spray painted a $2 thrifted bookend and $7 Buddha from target. what do you think?

white and grey save the day ...again!

2009-03-10T05:00:00.000-04:00

check out this budget bathroom makeover where the major changes were pretty much just a coat of paint and a new sink.

patchwork please

2009-03-09T07:38:00.000-04:00

with my new machine and my hippie chic heart, i am so craving a big patchwork project - aren't these just awesome?!! way 70's...

images from flickr

mail goodness

2009-03-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

got 2 great cards in the mail last week. one was a really cute button thank you card and the other a card from the beautiful project - cloud 9 all the time baby.

cover them balls

2009-03-06T05:54:00.001-05:00

have you ever noticed how expensive little styrofoam balls are when covered with moss or seashells and sold in a home design store?! that's why i think this idea of fabric covered balls is so genius - easy to do, easy to coordinate, and really cheap!!! check out some more fabric ideas at bhg.

Congratulations My!

2009-03-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

today is my's of tha hotness 2nd blogiversary! just wanted to congratulate her and say i that i love all the great finds and eyecandy on her site :) to celebrate she's invited us over for a tea party and asked us to maybe have a little one on our own...

for mine, i'd invite you to ladakh. it's a little valley nestled in the himalayas, in the very northern part of india, and is many times referred to as "little tibet." there we'll stop for a rest after a wonderful trek, and laugh and have hot chai, samosas, and maybe a chance meeting with some saintly person who will bless us as we travel on our way...

all of these are from flickr!

great DIY

2009-03-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

do you subscribe to photojojo? you should - check out their latest photography idea:

gross out jello

2009-03-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

i picked up katie brown's latest book, Katie Brown Celebrates: Simple and Spectacular Parties All Year Round, and this one recipe looked simple with lots of bang for your gross out buck.

insect jigglers

insect candies
4 (4 serving size) pkgs. of jello flavored gelatin
2.5 cups boiling water
muffin tins

1. place some insect candies in each muffin cup

2. mix gelatin with boiling water, stir until dissolved. set aside and let cool for about 5 minutes.

3. fill each mold with gelatin and put in refrigerator until set - about 2 hours.

this chair

2009-03-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

by chatelaine designs might be one of the prettiest i have ever seen. perfect sorbet colors, perfectly feminine.

cute poster

2009-02-27T07:02:00.001-05:00

first saw this poster in domino but regrettably never kept track of the details. but i just found it again and it's on sale!!!! i know it's meant for a kids room but it's just so cheery and basic i think it could go anywhere.

trip advisor tells all

2009-02-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

thanks!

2009-02-26T15:13:00.007-05:00

for featuring my headboard on your before and after today. here's some more pix.

UPDATE: i got some questions about the paint color etc.- the headboard i got off craigslist for $40. primed and painted w/ painters touch spray paint. wall color is evening hush by behr. hope that helps :)

2009-02-26T05:32:00.003-05:00

2009-02-25T02:46:00.017-05:00

one of my fave remixes of all time -

Whatever you say its alright
Whatever you do its all good
Whatever you say its alright
Silence is not the way
We need to talk about it
Heaven is on the way
Heaven is on the way

didn't watch the oscars

2009-02-24T04:00:00.001-05:00

but i did see some good movies last week (click for info).

so clever

2009-02-23T13:14:00.000-05:00

all you knitters out there have got to check out this post on zakka life.
and if ur feelin' generous - i could totally use one of these myself!!

just had another

2009-02-20T07:00:00.002-05:00

"wish i was skinny" moment when i saw this skirt.

good wood

2009-02-19T08:00:00.002-05:00

like everyone else, i love wood floors. i just can't decide if i like dark or light. but this beautiful floor looks like the best of both. that chalkboard wall ain't so bad either...

pic from canadian house and home

aprons

2009-02-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

i saved this pic off someone's awesome blog a few years ago b/c it's got all the elements that i love - sweet, homemade, bohemian, unbleached cotton goodness. 3 years later and i still love it.

cheap and chic

2009-02-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

$2 wooden bowl courtesy of a thrifty girlfriend!

wonder walls

2009-02-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

painting up a chalkboard wall seems pretty popular and i do like the idea of an expanse of wall just waiting for me to pen a mushy love note, or a burst of creative expression, or just a grocery list.

the thing is i don't know how many messages i would actually write, and i always wonder about chalk dust on the floor, and i've heard that even if you wipe them down really well, these chalk board walls are never as pristine as you would like.

so i am really loving this idea of a wall of cork.

i could put up pictures, magazine clippings, cool bumperstickers, pins - all the visuals of my life. and while i like the natural cork, i bet it would look awesome painted the wall color so it just disappears and all you see is your beautifully evolving wall of ephemera...

pic1 from apartment therapy, pic2 from canadian house and home

happy valentines day!

2009-02-13T07:02:00.002-05:00

what a wonderful world ours could be! hoping you give and get lots of hugs this weekend and always :)

love sewing!

2009-02-13T07:00:00.003-05:00

pillows and sheets. yup, i'm still making really simple stuff. for vday i made these pillows and sheets for my guestroom -

and these for my bedroom -

the throw pillows are made from dishtowels i got at walmart and the sheets - i think these are my favorite - are trimmed with a simple white grosgrain ribbon with "i love you" text in red. the effect is very minimalist, yet sweet, and "evergreen" as my mom would say.

2009-02-12T07:02:00.001-05:00

get your heart here.

last minute love ideas

2009-02-12T07:00:00.002-05:00

tons of ideas out there, but this was one of my faves - candy hearts glued onto a frame made of cardboard - can't get easier than that!

pop

2009-02-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

i never tire of neutral furnishings with gorgeous pops of color. so cute. so versatile. so happy.

all pics from living magazine.

valentines day prep

2009-02-10T06:00:00.005-05:00

emily, of the famed inside a black apple, has a beautiful free valentine download, that i found out about via sewtakeahike.

so i downloaded and cut them out, glued them to black cardstock, strung some red ribbon, and hung them from some branches that i have in the corner of my little living room. then i strung a few in the dining area. they turned out so cute - i don't think the pics do them justice.

here's my sofa dressed up a little for valentines day.

i also finally got around to making my friend a "love" pillow like the ones i made last year, except i added some grosgrain ribbon to hers and i can't get over how pretty a nice WIDE ribbon looks all tied up in bow. :)

tote

2009-02-09T06:00:00.002-05:00

made this tote from a cute panel i found at joann's last week. for those who don't know, a "panel" is a complete pattern that is already printed on a length of fabric. you just cut it out and then sew. elementary stuff - but that's where i'm at. i'm not ready for real deal patterns yet - i just want to keep having fun and get to know my machine, and THEN move on. i'm a gemini - if things get too weird too soon i might quit - its the whole commitment thing.

anyways, the panel had printed directions which i loved - cuz i love anything text-y. i made a little change purse, about 6" square, from one set of directions. the last 2 pics show the front and back of it. i really love the way both things turned out :)

rain on me

2009-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

could a shower be more perfect? room for two with poetry amongst the drops...

from living magazine.

1 potato, 2 potato

2009-02-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

roasted potatoes with garam masala. so easy and so good.

2 sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and sliced into rounds
3 regular potatoes peeled and sliced (not the baking or russet type)
2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. garam masala
1/2 tsp. salt
red pepper flakes or black pepper to taste

preheat oven to 375. toss everything in a mixing bowl making sure all the potato slices get some oil and spices. lay out in a single layer on baking sheet. bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. chow down.

talisman

2009-02-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

photographer kate newton describes a talisman as a physical manifestation of our desire to be protected, brave and lucky. this is a sampling of her talisman project which is a series of pictures about travelers and their talismans. the quotes are from the travelers.

My father gave me this watch, before he died unexpectedly. I always keep it with me.

This seed fell on my head in Noosa - I was about ten metres away from any trees. I found this scarf in a forest in Amsterdam, washed it, and have worn it every day for seven years.

It's a photo of my mum, which I've had for about ten years, and a close friend gave me this heart.

This ring says 'Faith'. My sister gave it to me, about 11 years ago.

I had my grandmothers crucifix. It was in my day pack when I was robbed at gunpoint in Buenos Aires.

ooh la la!

2009-02-03T03:00:00.001-05:00

check out this chair - kinda sexy and it makes me giggle. $1250 by fabulousmess.

wow

2009-02-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

i was going to do another post today and then i saw this and had to share. maybe you've seen it too. it really stopped me cold.

currently coveting

2009-01-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

this new line from fishs eddie - check out these serving trays that look like restaurant receipts, memo pads and ruled notebook paper.

napkin holder

2009-01-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

pam bought me this cute little napkin holder last year -

and last night i needed a sewing project so i made one for myself with some pink camouflage fabric i had. not too bad for a 1st try :)

hi guys!

2009-01-28T08:00:00.001-05:00

hows things?!

hope ur year is off to a fantastic start!

ru lovin the new prez as much as me?!

in case ur wondering, i was on vacation until the 10th, and then just needed some time to get my bearings. went to miami for a few days over new years, and then the caribbean for 10 days. it was lots of fun and i have tons of pix that i'm sure would bore you all to death - they go something like this:

i did learn one thing on this trip. it's very important for your travel partner to know how to use a camera. this is my husband holding the camera at arm's length trying to get a shot of both us at one of those picture perfect/ will never happen again/ moments of a lifetime. take 1:

take 2:

and this is one of about 30 of him trying to take a pic of the moonlit ocean:

anyways, i'm not really complaining b/c God knows i am very thankful we were able to take a vacation at all during these difficult times. i wish the best for you and yours in the year ahead and hope it's full of picture perfect moments :)

eastern market

2009-01-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

went to eastern market in dc a few weekends ago. it was so cold - didn't take many pix except for a house i really liked, some wood animals pam pointed out, bright canvases, and a ring i call the "everything ring" b/c it had lots of stuff all over it.

cheap thrills - 5

2009-01-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

so much awesome goodness at the charm lady boutique! even indian looking stuff!

cheap thrills - 4

2009-01-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

i already have the "give love" print by inkdesigner and am in serious need of that 2nd one for my guest bedroom. they've just got that cheery cute japanese-y goodness about 'em.

cheap thrills - 3

2009-01-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

check out these cute wallets by dumbkid designs. this one is kinda guy-centric but i like the colors and it's kind of sweetly sexy.

cheap thrills - 2

2009-01-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

i LOVE * LOVE * LOVE supergirl's sticker stash! she has tons of the requisite flowers and hearts but then she has this killer stash of science-y ones that rock.

cheap thrills - 1

2009-01-05T08:00:00.007-05:00

new year = clean start. get your squeak on with these really cute soaps from sunbasilgarden.

namaste notes

2009-01-02T08:00:00.004-05:00

after i had to design my sis's wedding invites, i developed an appreciation for using ethnic designs in art, so i am loving these blank notecards from mew paper arts. namaste is the most recognized greeting in india, and means, "i bow to [the divine in] you."

2009-01-01T08:00:00.002-05:00

happy holidays everyone!

2008-12-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

shameless self promotion

2008-12-23T03:00:00.005-05:00

ok, so let me geek out for a sec and show you my first couple of sewing projects - did i mention i love my new machine?!!! click pix for a more detailed view if u like that sort of thing:)

a canvas pillow with an applique made from a lucky brand tshirt that was headed for the trash. my 2nd zipper!

a black corduroy scarf with some awesome shannon lamden fabric:

"girls night in" white felt coasters with black embroidery

a little canvas make-up bag with an indian girl applique, a zipper charm, and my first zipper!

happy holidays to me!

2008-12-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

i got my first new sewing machine! it's a singer confidence 7470. i had been looking around for the last few months and settled on this one b/c it has been getting consistently glowing reviews since last year. it has a drop in bobbin, some 170 stitches, and a scary looking needle threader. check out my first practice run - see them straight stitches?!!! the stitching is so smooth - i'm in love. on my 1st night i made 3 projects! i'll show 'em to ya tomorrow :)

12 days of christmas indian style!

2008-12-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

and to all my single friends, you gotta check this out.

better staircase

2008-12-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

when i was in raleigh over the summer i spent 3 days looking at houses, and i really liked the entry in this one.

instead of the stairs in the foyer, they were in the great room just beyond. it was a really great layout - because the foyer felt large, open and a bit formal. and the great room was large enough that the stairs didn't take away from that space. i also loved that the summer cooling bill for a 4000+sf (!) house was $90 a month! the decor is way off base for me though :)

making an entrance

2008-12-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

don't have a formal entry? look what you can do with 3 stock bookcases. 2 face the living area and have peg hooks attached to the back, and the center one faces the new foyer for immediate storage space.

i'm starting to

2008-12-16T07:00:00.004-05:00

really like textured wallcoverings: grasscloth, raffia, and bamboo. i imagine pretty resistant to scratches, stains, and even small nail holes - and you get a timeless organic look.

images from phillip jeffries.

best kicks ever

2008-12-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

saucony grid propel plus in white. just bought 2 more pairs after having my first for over a year. 112 5-star reviews on zappos, and sold out everywhere else. they are seriously that comfortable :)

uk holiday

2008-12-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

some cute - last minute and doable - ideas form across the pond :)

images from living magazine.

slumdog millionaire

2008-12-11T09:52:00.008-05:00

in a lifetime of seeing movies i have only walked out of a movie once. last night i saw slumdog millionaire, and almost walked out for the 2nd time.

i can see why people love this movie, it has basic classic ingredients for a good film, an exotic - in this case not beautifully exotic - just hyper different - location, a love that won't be denied, and a rags to riches story.

but the start of the story was really difficult for me to watch. the brutality exhibited with children really impacted me, and there are now images of children that i cannot get out of my head. i know that brutality like this exists, and i've seen trainspotting - i know what twists ol' danny boy is capable of - but this was so hard to watch. i remember the outcry when my girl came out and people had issues with the death of a child in that movie. compared to slumdog, my girl was a walk in the sunshine, in the proverbial park.

the children were the standouts in this movie. as far as the story - i guess it's original but i'm also wondering if it has some similarities to quiz show which i haven't seen. my friend sabreena commented that the music was fantastic - that a.r. rahman is a fantastic composer. me and most of south asia would wholeheartedly agree. overall, worth seeing, i give it a 7 out of 10.

but millions are enthralled, calling it the best movie they've ever seen. so once again, i guess i just don't get it. the payoff didn't seem worth it to me.

and my answer to the question of destiny: is it written? at this moment, as i think about how i could have been born in any circumstance, a part of me says maybe...

would love to know what you think if you go see it :)

1 bathroom 3 ways

2008-12-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

instyle home edition spring 2007

i never thought

2008-12-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

that i would think dwight was cute.

2008-12-09T00:22:00.001-05:00

Julia thinks she's all agog?! she should have seen me when i found out she had tagged me! i was positively giddy cuz it's my first one! and that too, from someone whose blog i love and visit every time i do my blog rounds. you gotta check her out - i love her sense of design and her taste in outfits! oh, and she has an imaginary dog - i've always wanted one of those!

so she says i'm supposed to tell you 6 things about myself, so here goes:

1. when i was in elementary school i wanted braces really bad. i thought all that mouth gear rocked. and the first time i saw those rubber band braces i almost passed out from the sheer cool factor. so at lunch i would get tinfoil and roll it up, and flatten it out, and wear it in my mouth like braces. i did this for 3 years.

2. i have always been insanely jealous of people who look good in and can do their own french braids. and if they have little trinkets woven in - like beads or flowers, it kills me.

3. i am very scared of boy bikes - the kind with the bar that goes from handle to seat. i still cannot look at them b/c of a very painful accident i had in junior high. yup. that kind of pain. i was okay in about 20 minutes but i blacked out when it happened.

4. if i even think of the word "booger" i start dry heaving. i get grossed out really easily by bodily functions, but just the thought of that word and i have convulsions. and if someone tries to really f@#! with me by talking about eating them (b/c they know i have an abnormally intense response to the word, and they have no life, and they just all around suck) in about 30 seconds of visual suggestions, i will throw up on the spot.

5. i love the rain and clouds like no one else. heavy dark black clouds lift my spirits like you won't believe. i respond viscerally to the colors, the mood, the smell, the atmosphere. a stormy sky is my most favorite event in nature. anyone who knows me knows this.

6. i like to stick weird stuff in my mouth. (insert a million jokes here) i have had a metal ice cube tray, a single hole punch, a ceramic drink coaster, barbecue tongs, and a battery stuck in my mouth at one time or another. it was always my dad who fished them out, and he was always laughing while he did it.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

ok, now i tag the following (i really would love to tag about 30 people - but 6 is the max :(

elizabeth whose always got goodies at strawberries in paris
thoughtful heidi at faboolosity
cosmopolitan meg at pigtown design
awesome kay who promised me coffee at apartment tbd, etc.
the incredibly talented patricia at pve design
affectionate and sweet "i just want to spread a little bit of happiness" sparkle at sparklesparkle

Here are the rules:

* Mention the rules on your blog.
* Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself.
* Tag six others
* Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they are tagged.

:)

2008-12-08T05:00:00.002-05:00

last week was a tough one. after what happened in india, i went on a news and internet and pc moratorium - i really needed it.

when something like that happens it's a reminder of the worst that humanity has to offer. a brutal attack on innocent people and families and cities and countries that will never be the same again.

but there are the other innocents - young people, harmed by circumstance, primed for hate, indoctrinated with twisted religious ideals and political agendas larger than they (or we) can imagine. i feel for them too. wherever there are people that are feeling continually marginalized, oppressed or unrepresented, we all risk a backlash - its a dark and fundamental law of nature. we can't change the results unless we change the equation. if the new government adjusts our current political stance or we open up more lines of communication - would that work? if we practice more inclusion rather than exclusion - would that work? every day that things don't get better for the disadvantaged on our planet, in any country or of any religion, we give birth to people who feel that they have nothing to lose and then these horrible acts of desperation take root in local communities and eventually become global issues.

i keep thinking about what Gandhi said, "be the change you wish to see in the world." if we can't practice patience and forgiveness within our own families and with our friends, then what possible hope do we have for the planet? it's like the joke about someone getting pissed at another driver while on the way to their yoga class to practice serenity and peace. we have to practice tolerance and generosity in our everyday. give everyone benefit of the doubt, have a big heart, have a tougher skin, smile and go on. don't harbor bad feelings. don't be petty and small. if you can't say something nice about someone else - don't say anything. discipline our kids, teach them to rise above, be strong, and live by simple humanitarian principles. show respect, love, and inclusion. we have to teach our children, and each other, by example. we have to be the change we wish to see in the world.

peace :)

happy thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

wishing you all a great holiday filled with family, friends, fun, and FOOD!

image from epicurious.

simply awesome art

2008-11-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

check out this pic from pottery barn. that awesome art looks like pages from a furniture catalog just pasted to a large canvas. even though some look older i bet you could get that same effect just by brushing new copies with tea or watered down brown paint. i love the BW and the scale. i bet this would translate well with any series of strong images - flowers, architecture, words...

it kind of reminds me something eddie ross did.

house no.8 ain't so great

2008-11-24T04:00:00.005-05:00

this week has been crazy. i had a leak in my kitchen ceiling and they had to go through the bathroom to fix it - so drywall holes in 2 rooms.

then my garbage disposal decided to stop working so had to get a whole new one installed. and while the garbage disposal guy was here, the entire front of one of my kitchen drawers completely fell off, and the guy said that it was crap and i should just get a whole new kitchen. when he said he that, i felt like slapping my forehead, and saying, "yeah! my 401K is worth less than half of what it was, but a sparkly brand new $10K kitchen sounds great! jeez - why hadn't i thought of that?!"

argghhh.

2008-11-21T03:00:00.000-05:00

2008-11-20T08:00:00.005-05:00

-A gift of your time by visiting a loved one
-A gift of your labor by doing a chore for someone
-A donation to the person's favorite charity
-A ticket to a play, movie or sporting event
-A gift certificate to a grocer or retail store (or a gas station!)
-A gift to a service such as haircut, massage, nails
-Pay tuition for a continuing education class
-A photograph with a poem or story of a special time with the recipient
-Share your talent, such as music, tennis or language lesson
-Use your creative talents and make a gift
-Pay for a magazine subscription or some Itunes
-Plant a tree in honor of the person

thanks brenda!

adorable house!

2008-11-19T02:00:00.001-05:00

check out this gorgeous little 900sf (!) schoolhouse turned cottage in the catskills. i think this is considered "modern country" style - and it suits me just fine. read more at country living.

easy to do and good for me too?!

2008-11-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

according to an article at real age, a recent study showed that eating just 8 walnuts a day for 4 weeks caused subjects arteries to expand, resulting in increased blood flow. in other words - just 28 days to a healthier heart!

image from the bbc good food glossary.

not very timely but it's on sale!

2008-11-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

check out this super cute laminated tote - i love the colors, the lady and the text.

if there's one thing i love

2008-11-14T02:14:00.007-05:00

its jewelry from the east. anything indian, turkish, or persian - and i'm all over it. but it's hard to find refined and delicate pieces unless, like everything else in life, you're willing to pay. so i'm loving these two pendants which are about $40. the first one is made of brass and looks beautifully persian. and the 2nd one is made of porcelain(!) and echoes flourishes that could be found anywhere east of the mediterranean.

button card

2008-11-13T03:55:00.005-05:00

how cute is this holiday card? if you can find the time - it looks easy enough to do :)

more sheets

2008-11-12T03:00:00.001-05:00

i embellished another white sheet set with some grosgrain ribbon in my favorite color palette of blues and greens.

wreaths

2008-11-11T02:00:00.000-05:00

how modern and pretty are these wreaths at williams sonoma? that first one is my fave - love the grays and greens.

2008-11-10T08:00:00.004-05:00

you know how you have a certain doodle you do over and over -- like when you want to try out a new pen or you're really bored? these are mine since middle school, and i can do them in 5 seconds flat. i always thought they were weird b/c one doodle is kinda idyllic and the other is the opposite.

"friendship has no religion"

2008-11-07T04:00:00.003-05:00

a few days ago i watched this wonderful movie about friendship, religion, women, marriage, and choices. i really liked it.

an arranged WHAT???

2008-11-07T02:59:00.001-05:00

and for the sake of balance, here's a progressive twist on arranged introductions.

election night shenanigans

2008-11-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

my sis and her new hubby - devoted obama supporters - were having a hardcore 2-person election party blowout at their place in va. and they kept texting me funny pix.

so last night i made her these earrings from some stuff i had laying around. like many grown women, we harbor a secret love for the goofy accoutrement, so i know she'll be all over these.

change is good and i am hopeful :)

2008-11-05T04:26:00.003-05:00

this poster by scott hansen was my favorite of the election.

isn't it weird

2008-11-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

that i finished this cross stitch the night before election day?!? hope it's a good omen for the day ahead! the design is from misofunky.

happy november!

2008-11-03T05:00:00.001-05:00

hope the new month finds you in great spirits :)

more thrifting over the weekend - found these wooden bowls (teak?) made in thailand - 4 for 3.50 - one of them has a hairline crack. not sure what i'm going to do with them yet, but check out the awesome makeover that olga did with some bowls that she found.

cuteness overload

2008-11-03T03:24:00.002-05:00

i don't normally do redundant posts (posting about other posts) and i'm not a pet person, though i have a fundamental eastern philosophy about the supreme and inherent value of all living things (which also drives my constant guilt for not having gone back to being a vegetarian yet) but i had to mention this really popular post on apartment therapy last week. it was about working from home and it had a pic of this puppy as its lead-in and even i (horrible non-pet person) was instantly charmed.

halloween sheets

2008-10-31T06:15:00.002-04:00

i didn't do much halloween crafting this year but i did make these sheets for my bed. they're just a plain white queen sheet set from walmart that i embellished with halloween fabric and ribbon. i just did the 2 pillowcases and the flat sheet. sorry about the quality of the pix.

quickie card #2

2008-10-31T06:00:00.000-04:00

here's another quickie birthday card i made. i tried to think outside the circle, plus it was diwali, so it came out kinda indian.

dining room

2008-10-30T04:00:00.000-04:00

check out this cute dining room makeover by the designer guys, a canadian design show. i am so in love with that missoni-esque lampshade.

lady in red

2008-10-29T08:00:00.005-04:00

turns out chris de burgh was right all along: men just love a lady in red.

Psychologist Daniela Niesta from University of Rochester.

Happy Diwali

2008-10-28T04:00:00.000-04:00

Today is Diwali - The Festival of Lights. It is India's biggest, funnest, and sparkliest holiday of the year!

I posted an explanation of the holiday last year, so for 2008 - I'd just like to wish you all a very Happy Diwali, full of boundless Light, Love, and Happiness!

lucky b@#$%

2008-10-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

umm, yeah...if i were way thinner and rockin' this jacket.

eat your food!

2008-10-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

there's hungry relatives in india!

my mom left for a 6 month trip to india this past saturday and like all returning relatives who come back from abroad she had to take back some pretty cool gifts. some people still take laptops, cellphones, digital cameras, but they have all that. all my family wanted was american food. so next to her clothes and medicines my mom had a serious stash of these 4 food items.

my aunts adore the single serve crystal lights, and their cooks love the mashed potatoes b/c they can make a delicious indian bread way easier this way, the kids and teens go seriously nuts for brownies, and the matriarch of my family - my 84 yr old aunt - will have nothing less than jello no bake cheesecake :)